What are full body scans?

Full body scans are medical imaging processes, often consisting of full body MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans. They are gaining popularity for their potential to provide detailed information about the body's internal state. Andrew Huberman shared his personal experience with getting a full body scan MRI, noting that it helped identify health issues like a disc bulge, provided reassurance about not having tumors, and assessed brain health by identifying white spots—which are tiny naturally occurring brain lesions. These scans can be costly, not routinely necessary, and some individuals may prefer not to know their detailed internal health status 1.

Additionally, discussions with Peter Attia and Andrew Huberman highlighted that while MRIs are good at detecting cancer if present (sensitivity), they can also indicate many non-cancerous findings as potentially cancerous (low specificity). This means patients may have to undergo further investigations for findings that turn out to be benign, such as glandular tissue abnormalities 2. Despite the ability of MRIs to detect cancer early, the downside includes the anxiety of discovering benign conditions and deciding whether to act upon them 1.

In a separate context related to psychological states and cravings, Andrew Huberman also discussed the concept of body scans as a focus on interoception—the sensory innervation and awareness of the internal organs. He posited that brief body scans might reduce cravings by shifting attention away from external stimuli towards an internal focus on bodily sensations 3.