Presumption of Being Healthy
Until 60 years old humans are presumed neurologically healthy. At sixty age-related changes may show up on a medical image of the brain.
The healthy functioning of the central nervous system, also known as the brain, depends on internal and external experience. The functioning of the brain may be interrupted or permanently altered by many bacterial, viral, fungal, and parasitic infections. Hormonal changes, vascular condition, diet, exercise, nature, and music are known to affect brain functioning. A common example is a migraine which affects 10% worldwide and is caused by a combination of external and inherited features.
Moody, irritated, passive-aggressive, narcissistic, obsessive — you would not expect faulty brain anatomy, right? Behavioral problems in healthy adults are not usually related to brain structure. A radiologist knows what a normal brain looks like for your age group.
What happens when a healthy person (no symptoms or complaints) proceeds with brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)? What are the chances that something severe and unexpected could be found on imaging of your body or brain? Will the early discovery of a life-threatening tumor save your life? Or will clinically irrelevant false-positive findings confuse you and result in no health advantage at all?
