Checkup for the Brain

28 octobre 2025

2 min de lecture

Ouvrir le guide Ouvrir la collection Ouvrir la série

Is it possible to check the health of the brain — for example, the health of the heart or kidneys? The main organ of the central nervous system is quite complicated, but modern diagnostic methods allow us to assess its condition.

Points clés

Is it possible to check the health of the brain — for example, the health of the heart or kidneys?
Who needs a checkup?
How it is tested

Pour qui

Ceux qui explorent Nervous system à travers сheckup, brain.

Pourquoi c'est important

Cet article vous aide à vous orienter rapidement, puis à passer à une collection ou une série si vous souhaitez aller plus loin.

Auteur de l'article

Dr. Igor

neurologist

Who needs a checkup?

Many checkups of other parts of the body are carried out regularly, regardless of whether there are any issues. However, typically the brain is only examined if there is a specific reason to do so, such as:

Craniocerebral trauma
Neurosurgical intervention
Transferred infection of the central nervous system (meningitis, encephalitis, polio, rabies, tetanus, etc.) or toxic lesions
Hereditary predisposition to neurodegenerative diseases
Headaches of a different nature, not related to the emotional background or load
Persistent dizziness, changes in gait, and difficulty moving around
Impaired consciousness, memory, attention, and other cognitive functions

Brain health is also affected by various chronic diseases such as hypertension, systemic atherosclerosis, and diabetes. These can cause vascular foci, seen on brain MRIs as "scars" due to impaired blood flow in small vessels.

How it is tested

First of all, instrumental methods are used to assess brain function.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): the most informative method. It allows for the visualization of brain structures, detecting tumors and developmental anomalies, and assessing the consequences of injuries and strokes.
Computed tomography (CT): Used to diagnose structural changes such as hemorrhages, tumors, and damage to the bones of the skull.
Electroencephalography (EEG): records the brain's electrical activity and helps to assess the effectiveness of therapy and diagnose some types of sleep disorders. EEG is often used in neurology and psychiatry.
Positron emission tomography (PET): allows the metabolic activity of the brain to be assessed. Areas of increased or decreased activity can be identified, which is important for diagnosing Alzheimer's or Parkinson's diseases.
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive method that can stimulate specific brain areas and evaluate their response. It is used to both diagnose and treat certain neurological and psychiatric disorders.

Various blood tests, from vitamin tests to genetic studies that indirectly indicate possible problems, are also helpful in diagnosis.

Cognitive functions of the brain can be checked with the neuropsychological tests MMSE and MOCA.They help detect memory disorders, attention, information processing speed, speech, and logical abilities.

While there is no mandatory brain scan, a comprehensive examination is available if desired:

MRI or CT scan to evaluate brain structure using contrast enhancement
Examination by a neurologist for objective assessment of neurologic status
Laboratory tests to rule out metabolic disorders
Neuropsychological tests to assess cognitive function

These tests will help to identify possible precursors to certain problems or to determine the underlying cause of existing cognitive impairment.

Continuer la lecture

Nervous system#brain

Fitness for the Mind: How Neurobics Works

It is not only muscles that need to be trained. The brain, just like muscles, develops only through action. And the more "pumped up" the brain is, the easier it is to capture and assimilate information. Brain fitness is called neurobics.

Dr. Marina28 oct. 2025

Nervous system#stress

Are All Illnesses Caused by Stress?

Is it possible to get sick with cancer because of stress? Is it true that calm people get sick less often? Let’s look at how our emotions affect our physical health.

Dr. Julia28 oct. 2025

Healthy lifestyle#healthy eating

MIND Diet: Food For the Brain

It has been proven that foods containing certain nutrients can improve our cognitive functions and reduce the risk of degenerative brain diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. What should you eat to keep your mind working well?

Dr. Igor28 oct. 2025

Healthy lifestyle#women health

Preventive Medicine Starts With a Medical Checkup

To help you monitor the state of your health, Ornament has developed a series of recommended routine physical examinations, known as checkups. What and how they check?

Dr. Irene28 oct. 2025

Installez Ornament pour non seulement lire ces articles, mais aussi suivre votre santé, enregistrer vos résultats d'analyses et accéder à d'autres fonctionnalités utiles

Installer Ornament