We often assume that good health means “feeling fine.” But some of the most dangerous threats to our well-being are the ones we can’t feel at all. Invisible illnesses — asymptomatic diseases — and silent killers — some of which can progress undetected for years, can quietly reshape the body until options for treatment are limited.
What if we could help detect these hidden health conditions early—before symptoms show up?
That’s the goal of Prenuvo. With radiation-free, whole body MRI, our technology offers a comprehensive approach to proactive health monitoring of the entire body, scanning for hundreds conditions across 33 organs — including many with asymptomatic conditions — potentially helping detect them in their earliest stages.
Why “feeling fine” doesn’t always mean you’re in the clear
Many of the most common and deadly diseases in modern medicine are what experts call invisible illnesses. They often present no warning signs — until it's too late. In fact, studies have shown that whole body MRI screening for asymptomatic adults can help identify a wide range of clinically relevant findings, including conditions in which early treatment improves disease-related morbidity and mortality.
While your annual physical is very important, it largely relies on outward signs and symptoms. Whole body MRI can help detect asymptomatic conditions like aneurysms, tumors, vascular defects, or neurodegeneration which otherwise might go unnoticed.
Related: Screening vs. diagnostic testing: what’s the difference?
The “invisible” health conditions a whole body MRI scan can help detect
Here are a dozen serious but often silent diseases that Prenuvo’s whole body MRI can help detect — potentially even when you feel perfectly healthy.
1. Brain aneurysms
What they are: A brain, cerebral, or intracranial aneurysm is a weakening of an artery in the brain that fills with blood. One study estimated that roughly 5% of adults may have one. If a cerebral aneurysm ruptures, blood hemorrhages into the surrounding tissues, causing serious health issues, including hemorrhagic stroke, brain damage, coma, and even death. The survival rate after a ruptured brain aneurysm is about 50%.
Why they’re often missed: Most aneurysms don’t show symptoms until they rupture. Larger aneurysms may cause pressure on the brain and nerves, leading to:
- Eye pain, pupil dilation, and/or double vision
- Numbness and/or weakness
- Paralysis (inability to move muscles) on one side of the face
How they may be detected early: Prenuvo’s Whole Body MRI can help detect aneurysms as small as 4mm. Based on our preliminary internal data, our 2024 study showed the presence of a brain aneurysm in 2% of patients scanned.
How early detection helps: Many aneurysms can be safely monitored over time through imaging, which can include follow-up scans such as Prenuvo’s whole body MRI. Cerebral aneurysms assessed to have a higher risk — based on size, location, or individual risk factors — can be treated with surgical or endovascular procedures.
Related: Detecting aneurysms with a Prenuvo scan
2. Kidney cancer
What it is: Renal cancer develops in the kidneys - a pair of fist-sized organs located next to the spine behind the other abdominal organs. The American Cancer Society (ACS) calls it one of the 10 most common cancers in both men and women — lifetime chances of developing it are 1.4% for women and 2.3% for men.
Why it’s often missed: Kidney cancer is often asymptomatic. The ACS also notes the difficulty of detection due to the lack of recommended screening tests and location of the kidneys deep inside the body, which means that small kidney tumors cannot be seen or felt during a physical exam.
How it may be detected early: Studies have shown the efficacy of MRI at helping detect abnormal masses in kidneys. Additional studies have noted whole body MRI’s high diagnostic accuracy at noting the spread (metastases) of cancers like kidney cancer.
How early detection helps: The ACS notes the importance of early detection of cancer to increase treatment options and survival rates. For kidney cancer, the ACS notes a 5-year survival rate of over 90% if the cancer is detected when it is still localized to the kidneys vs. only 18% when there is distant spread.
3. Spinal disc degeneration
What it is: Spinal disc degeneration (also called degenerative disc disease) occurs when the cushioning discs between the spinal vertebrae wear down over time. It’s part of the natural aging process, and it can cause stiffness, pain, and limited mobility in the lower back and neck.
Why it’s invisible: Disc degeneration can be difficult to diagnose because it doesn’t always cause symptoms. Studies have noted that the slow progression of the condition can lead to potential misdiagnosis and/or delay of diagnosis and treatment.
How it may be detected early: The whole body MRI imaging used by Prenuvo is highly accurate at helping detect spinal conditions and abnormalities, even in early stages.
How early detection helps: As with many conditions, the earlier disc degeneration is diagnosed, the sooner it may be treated to minimize pain and improve function. The Mayo Clinic has noted a high success rate (~80%) in treatment of acute radiculopathy, known as sciatica. As the condition progresses and conservative treatment options such as (physical therapy, medications, and injections) are exhausted, surgery may be recommended.
Related: Do you sit all day? You probably have spinal degeneration.
4. Fatty liver disease (NAFLD)
What it is: NAFLD (also called hepatic steatosis) is a metabolic condition where excessive fat builds up in the liver. Untreated, it can cause cirrhosis or cancer.
Why it’s invisible: NAFLD is difficult to diagnose in its early stages because it often lacks pain or warning signs. It is estimated that NAFLD is the most common type of liver disease and may affect 25-30% of the U.S. population.
How it may be detected early: Whole body MRI has emerged as the gold standard for precisely measuring visceral fat. Studies have described MRI as the most definitive form of imaging tool to qualitatively and quantitatively evaluate NAFLD.
How early detection helps: When caught early, lifestyle interventions (such as adopting the Mediterranean diet for weight loss) may be made to slow or reverse the progression of the disease.
5. Adrenal masses
What they are: Adrenal adenoma are hormone-secreting or cancerous growths in adrenal glands - which are located on top of the kidneys.
Why they’re invisible: They often show no hormonal symptoms until advanced, and they are often discovered incidentally during other abdominal imaging. The ACS notes the difficulty of diagnosing adrenal masses early — because of this, they are often quite large by the time they are found.
How they may be detected early: Studies have shown whole body MRI’s ability to help detect cancerous growths, including adrenal masses, throughout the body, especially in more rare sites such as the adrenal glands, spleen, and peritoneum. Prenuvo’s scans can help identify cancerous growths as early as stage 1.
How early detection helps: As with all cancers, chances for successful treatment are higher the earlier the cancer is detected and treated. In the early stages, adrenal masses may be treated conservatively with medications and watchful waiting, and studies have shown that early management prevents hormonal imbalance.
6. Prostate cancer
What it is: Prostate cancer develops in the prostate, a walnut sized gland located just below the bladder that wraps around the upper part of the urethra in men. It is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in the US in men — according to the ACS, 1 in 8 US men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer at some point in their lives.
Why it’s invisible: Prostate cancer’s symptoms are often similar to those of enlarged prostate (BPH) — and the chances of men getting either condition increases with age. It is most common in men over 50. PSA levels can be normal in early cancer, which can further complicate detection.
How it may be detected early: Prenuvo’s whole body MRI technology can help detect cancer as early as stage 1 throughout the entire body. Studies have noted MRI to be better than other imaging types in detection of prostate cancer.
How early detection helps: When diagnosed early and promptly treated, prostate cancer is often curable. Prostate cancer is usually slow-growing — with early detection and prompt treatment, survival rates are quite high and mortality rates have dropped by +40% since 1999. As noted by the CDC, 97% of prostate cancer patients survive 5 years later.
Related: What is prostate cancer?
7. Neurodegeneration such as Alzheimer's Disease
What it is: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a complex degenerative brain disorder that is characterized by progressive and severe dementia with neuropsychiatric symptoms. It accounts for ~70% of all dementia in the elderly. It is most prevalent in those 65 years or older — one 2025 study has estimated a 42% lifetime risk of developing dementia after the age of 55,
Why it’s invisible: Early symptoms of AD can often be confused with normal aging. Adding to the difficulty of diagnosis, changes to brain structure from AD can begin years before memory symptoms appear.
How it may be detected early: Studies have demonstrated MRI’s ability to help detect changes in brain structure up to 10 years before clinical symptoms appear. Additionally, in papers presented at the American Academy of Neurology, Prenuvo’s AI-assisted research has demonstrated vital links between lifestyle factors and brain volume changes, especially with abdominal visceral fat and midlife brain atrophy, a contributor to AD.
How early detection helps: As with many degenerative diseases, early diagnosis of AD allows intervention planning — and access to treatments that can help manage symptoms.
Related: Brain volume as a window into your brain health.
8. Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
What it is: MS is an often invisible, autoimmune condition that attacks the brain and spine. It is an unpredictable disease that affects people differently — in severe cases, people with MS may experience loss of vision and essential motor functions (including speaking, walking, and writing) when communication between the brain and other parts of the body becomes disrupted.
Why it’s invisible: Early symptoms of MS may be transient or vague. The National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS) notes that many of the symptoms will be invisible, and may include a wide variety of seemingly unconnected issues, such fatigue, pain, cognitive and mood changes, numbness or tingling, heat sensitivity, vision changes, issues with balance and coordination problems, and bladder and bowel incontinence.
How it may be detected early: Studies have shown MRI’s ability to help detect the demyelinating lesions associated with MS with high accuracy. The NMSS calls MRI the preferred imaging modality for the diagnosis of MS.
How early detection helps: A recent 25-year study of MS demonstrated the importance of early treatment in delaying the progression of MS.
9. Muscular Dystrophy
What it is: Muscular dystrophy refers to a group of more than 30 genetic conditions that cause muscle weakness and other muscle-related symptoms that usually progressively worsen. These conditions are known as myopathies — disorders of the skeletal muscles.
Why it’s invisible: Muscular dystrophy (MD) can be difficult to diagnose quickly since it can involve overlapping symptoms similar to other conditions. There are also a wide range of genetic mutations that cause different types of MD. Some people may show symptoms of MD but have none of the known genetic mutations. And it may begin deep in the muscles before clinical symptoms.
How it may be detected early: The whole-body muscle mapping made possible by Prenuvo’s MRI technology has been shown by studies to be superior to CT scans at helping detect abnormalities that led to early degeneration.
How early detection helps: Early detection of MD is crucial for interventions before muscle damage progresses. Whole body MRI has emerged as an essential tool for informing therapy and tracking treatment response.
10. Bone metastases
What it is: Cancer that has silently spread to bone — often from the breast, prostate, or lungs.
Why it’s invisible: Metastatic or secondary bone cancer describes the progression of cancer originating in other tissues and spreading (metastasizing) to the bones. Unless the primary cancer has been identified and the patient is under surveillance for potential spread, it may grow silently and cause no symptoms until fracture or pain. One study notes that later diagnoses increase the risk of developing skeletal-related events (SREs), which significantly impair the patient’s quality of life.
How they may be detected early: Prenuvo scans use whole body MRI technology, which studies have shown to have a sensitivity of 95% and specificity 90% which can help identify bone metastases. Other studies have shown that MRI helps detect bone lesions better than CT.
How early detection helps: As with all cancers, early detection can guide timely systemic therapy.
11. Lymphoma
What it is: Cancer of the immune system occurring in the lymph nodes.
Why it’s invisible: A diagnosis of lymphoma often begins with an exam that checks for swollen lymph nodes in the neck, underarm and groin. However, some node swelling may be internal and painless.
How it may be detected early: The whole body MRI technology used by Prenuvo has been shown to have high sensitivity for helping detect lymphoma. Whole body MRI is also considered superior to contrast enhanced CT for helping detect lymphoma.
How early detection helps: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) notes that early-stage lymphomas respond well to treatment — with Hodgkin lymphoma, the cure rate jumps from 80% to 90% when treatment begins in the early-stage.
12. Ankylosing Spondylitis
What is it: A long-developing type of arthritis that affects the spine and joints, such as the knees, ankles, and/or hips.
Why it’s invisible: Early signs like fatigue or stiffness are nonspecific. Symptoms can vary in type and intensity: some people experience mild episodes of intermittent back pain and stiffness — others may experience severe, ongoing pain with loss of flexibility in the spine. Some people with ankylosing spondylitis may develop diseases of the eye (uveitis), skin (psoriasis), or gut (inflammatory bowel disease).
How it may be detected early: Whole body MRI is considered the imaging gold-standard for this condition and other rheumatological conditions due to its high-grade sensibility and lack of ionizing radiation. One study notes that whole body MRI’s ability to acquire imaging of the entire skeleton while discriminating between active lesions with chronic ones has significantly increased diagnostic confidence.
How early detection helps: One study notes the ability of whole body MRI to help detect spondylitis in very early phases, providing the possibility to start therapy as soon as possible. Timely therapy can help preserve mobility.
Why it’s better to know than to wait
Finding an invisible illness doesn’t need to mean panic. It can also mean power. Whole body MRI offers a path to help you understand what's happening inside your body — giving you a chance to be proactive about certain hidden conditions rather than making you wait to be reactive.
And importantly, research shows that discovering an asymptomatic condition through imaging does not increase long-term anxiety. In fact, many participants feel more confident about the comprehensive knowledge they gained about their health after getting a scan.
A Prenuvo whole body MRI offers whole body imaging that helps detect over hundreds hidden health conditions across 33 organs. The scans are non-invasive, radiation-free, contrast-free and are completed in under 60 minutes.
And when paired with our Enhanced Screening, you get a more comprehensive look at what’s going on with a body composition analysis, an advanced neurological assessment, and an evaluation of over 50+ blood biomarkers.
To learn more about the benefits of a whole body MRI—and what makes Prenuvo different—book a call with a member of our care team.
