Kim Kardashian’s Brain Scan Shows ‘Low Activity’ And Holes. I’m A Brain Expert And I Have Questions
- Dec 26, 2025
- 2 min read
A recent episode of The Kardashians shared some startling news about Kim Kardashian’s brain. Discussing Kim’s recent brain scan, her doctor pointed out “holes” on her brain scan he said were related to “low activity”.
Scott A. Garfitt/Invision/AP
While this sounds incredibly sad and concerning, doctors and scientists have doubts about the technology used and its growing commercialisation.
I study brain health, including imaging the brain to look for early signs of disease. Here’s what I think about this technology, whether it can really find holes in our brains, and if we should be getting these scans to check our own.
What can imaging really tell you?
Earlier this year, Kim was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm after an MRI. The type and extent of this aneurysm is unclear, and there doesn’t seem to be a clear link between her aneurysm and this recent news.
The latest announcement came after a different type of imaging, known as single-photon emission tomography (SPECT). This involves injecting radioactive chemicals into the blood and using a special camera which creates 3D images of organs, including the brain.
SPECT scans can be used to track and measure blood flow in organs and are used by doctors to diagnose and guide treatment for conditions affecting the brain, heart and bones. However, while SPECT has some clinical use under limited circumstances, there is not good evidence for SPECT scans outside these purposes.
Enter the world of celebrities and private clinics
The clinic featured in The Kardashians offers SPECT to its clients. These scans have mass appeal due to their pastel colours, widespread promotion on social media, and claims they can diagnose conditions such as stress, Alzheimer’s, ADHD, brain injury, eating disorders, sleep problems, anger and even marital problems.
But the scientific evidence to support SPECT as a diagnostic tool for an individual and for so many conditions has led many doctors and scientists to criticise such clinics as scientifically unfounded.
SPECT scans could show changes in blood flow, though these may be common across conditions and vary depending on brain area, time of day and how well-rested a person is. Areas with reduced blood flow have been described as “holes”.
In Kim’s case, this was explained as “low activity” linked to chronic stress. But there is no scientific evidence to support this link, and no single technique can reliably connect changes in brain function to outcomes for an individual.
These scans aren’t cheap
Doctors are concerned about people without symptoms seeking SPECT scans. People are injected with radioactive materials without a defined clinical reason, may receive unnecessary treatments or supplements, and pay upwards of US$3,000 for a scan.
Do I need a scan like this?
While imaging tools can be genuinely useful for diagnosing disease, there is no medical need for healthy people to have them. These scans may take advantage of health anxieties and lead to unnecessary use of the health-care system.
It’s important to remember the best medical care is based on solid scientific evidence, provided by experts who use best-practice tools grounded in decades of research.