New Prenuvo AI Research Uncovers Hidden Brain and Organ Changes in Asymptomatic Adults Linked to Alcohol and Depression

Prenuvo, a leader in whole-body MRI screening, in partnership with leading researchers, today announced new studies presented at the 2025 ISMRM Annual Meeting (International Society of Magnetic Resonance). The research leverages advanced MRI imaging and AI to uncover hidden risks in people who appear healthy. The findings utilize Prenuvo’s extensive normative dataset of proactive whole-body MRI scans. Results highlight how subtle organ and brain changes may signal early disease long before symptoms appear, reinforcing Prenuvo’s mission to shift healthcare from reactive to proactive.

Research Highlights

Regular Consumption of Two or More Alcoholic Drinks per Day Is Linked to Brain Shrinkage and Organ Stress

In a study of 1,134 adults without alcohol use disorder, those who drank two or more drinks per day showed measurable signs of brain atrophy, particularly in regions tied to memory, motor control, and decision-making. They also had a 10% larger liver volume, 5.7% larger kidneys, and 15.6% more visceral fat. Importantly, statistically significant associations were found between enlarged liver and kidney volumes and brain atrophy, independent of confounders – suggesting that alcohol may contribute to systemic structural changes, potentially through inflammatory or metabolic pathways.

This research was completed with participation from Prenuvo Inc., Vigilance Health Imaging Network, Pacific Brain Health Center, Saint John’s Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, and the Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis.

To read the full abstract, click here: https://prenuvo.com/research/whole-body-and-brain-changes-associated-with-alcohol-intake-in-adults-without-alcohol-use-disorder

Exercise Is Linked to Larger Brain Volumes in People with Depression, Suggesting a Protective Role

In a study of 6,458 individuals, people with a history of depression had significantly smaller brain volumes than non-depressed participants. But among those who exercised regularly, especially at moderate to vigorous levels, the brain volume loss was less pronounced. These findings suggest that physical activity may not only improve mood but also help preserve brain structure, offering a potential buffer against long-term neurological impacts of depression.

This research was completed with participation from Prenuvo Inc., Vigilance Health Imaging Network, Pacific Brain Health Center, Saint John’s Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John’s Health Center, Washington University School of Medicine in St Louis, Mallinckrodt Institute of Radiology, the Department of Neurology, Washington University in St. Louis, and the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California Los Angeles.

To read the full abstract, click here: https://prenuvo.com/research/exercise-is-related-to-distinctly-larger-brain-volumes-in-depressed-versus-non-depressed-populations

Why it Matters

These studies draw on data from asymptomatic adults who had no reported diagnoses at the time of their scan. Yet the results point to subtle structural changes already underway in the brain and organs, reinforcing a growing body of evidence that chronic lifestyle factors (like alcohol use and sedentary behavior) may leave behind early biological footprints.

They also highlight the role of AI in making early detection faster and more scalable. In the depression study, an AI tool reduced brain imaging analysis time from 8 hours to just 35 minutes, enabling large-scale analysis across thousands of people.

Together, these findings point to a future where advanced imaging and AI can detect disease early, before symptoms appear, before damage becomes irreversible, and while there’s still time to intervene.

“At Prenuvo, we’re committed to transforming the way we think about health, from waiting for symptoms to appear, to identifying risks at the earliest possible stage,” said Sam Hashemi, VP and Head of AI & Research at Prenuvo. “Leveraging AI, these studies demonstrate the power of proactive imaging to reveal structural changes in our bodies that might otherwise go unnoticed, which could help people take charge of their health and provide clinicians with potential tools for early intervention.”

These studies build upon Prenuvo’s growing research portfolio, including the Hercules and Polaris studies presented at the American Association for Cancer Research and the American Society of Clinical Oncology 2025, which examine the effectiveness of whole-body MRI screening for early disease detection.

With an extensive and growing normative dataset of whole-body MRI scans, Prenuvo is building a new foundation for proactive health research. Its clinical MRI imaging dataset powers AI-led studies and supports collaborations across neurology, oncology, psychiatry, and internal medicine. To date, Prenuvo’s research has produced more than 30 abstracts and papers presented at major conferences, including RSNA and AACR. Its study on brain volume loss was the most-read article of 2023 in the Journal of Aging and Disease.

Ongoing research is exploring topics like brain aging, silent metabolic disease, and the long-term impact of lifestyle choices on organ health. Prenuvo welcomes new research partners focused on early detection and preventive care.

About Prenuvo

Prenuvo makes MRI scanning for early detection of many types of cancer and many other diseases seamless and more widely accessible. Combining cutting-edge analysis technology with radiation-free and non-invasive full-body scans, Prenuvo’s patient-centric design is optimized to assess the body holistically and in under 60 minutes, compared with the several hours it would take to achieve this level of insight from conventional MRI scans. Prenuvo’s team of 100+ radiologists specializes in whole-body MRI screenings to risk-stratify each patient report, keeping in mind healthcare complexities from the patient’s perspective, the treating clinician’s perspective, and the healthcare system’s perspective.

Contact Information

Christine Alabastro

Media Contact

Prenuvo

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