The latest season of The Kardashians has ignited a medical debate far removed from the show's usual glamour. In a recent episode, Kim Kardashian revealed details of a brain scan that reportedly showed "low activity" and "holes," which her doctor attributed to chronic stress. This revelation has prompted significant concern and criticism from the scientific and medical community.
The Scan and Its Controversial Diagnosis
The procedure at the centre of the controversy is a single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) scan. This technology, developed in 1976, tracks blood flow in organs. In the episode, it was suggested this scan identified areas of low function in Kardashian's brain, directly linked to high stress levels.
However, experts were quick to challenge this narrative. They point out that SPECT scans have very limited clinical applications, primarily used in well-defined areas like assessing certain types of seizures or blood flow to the heart. Their use for diagnosing conditions like stress, ADHD, or Alzheimer's in otherwise healthy individuals is not supported by robust scientific evidence.
Commercial Clinics and Health Anxieties
The episode has shone a light on a niche industry where private clinics offer these scans directly to consumers. These services can cost over US $3,000 and involve injecting radioactive tracers. Critics argue such clinics may exploit health anxieties by performing scans without a clear clinical need.
"This is an opportunistic use of a medical tool," explained one expert familiar with the practice. "Patients undergo invasive procedures involving radioactive materials, only to receive diagnoses based on questionable interpretation. This often leads to recommendations for expensive, unproven treatments." The fundamental advice from the medical establishment is clear: healthy individuals should not seek out these scans.
Expert Advice and the Path to Reliable Care
The core message from neurologists and health professionals is one of caution. Reliable medical care, they stress, is built on scientific evidence and best-practice diagnostic tools. A single SPECT scan is not a recognised method for evaluating stress or mental wellness in a clinical setting.
For the public, the takeaway is to be wary of direct-to-consumer health screenings that promise insights not available through standard NHS or medical routes. While Kim Kardashian's experience was broadcast on Wednesday 3 December 2025, the concerns it raises about medical commercialism and evidence-based practice are long-standing. True health management relies on consultation with qualified professionals using validated methods, not reality television storylines.
