Concierge brain-health imaging · London
BrainKey scan, AI-powered volumetric brain MRI for personalised brain-health tracking.
BrainKey is an AI-powered post-processing platform that adds volumetric analysis to a standard brain MRI. Provides percentile comparison of regional brain volumes, hippocampal size and white-matter change — for personalised brain-health tracking and dementia-risk monitoring.
Why patients choose us
- 01
The right hands
We route you to a consultant neuroradiologist working with BrainKey — the person who reads the volumetric report is the person you can question.
- 02
A brain-health plan, not a number
A percentile is a starting point, not the answer. You leave with a lifestyle and monitoring plan that fits the reading.
- 03
Independent, and free
We are paid by no clinic, so the recommendation is impartial and costs you nothing.
Key facts
The BrainKey scan, in six lines.
What BrainKey is, what it measures, how it is interpreted, and where it sits alongside a standard neurology assessment.
-
What it is
AI-based volumetric analysis added to a standard brain MRI.
-
What it measures
Whole-brain, hippocampal and regional brain volumes.
-
How it is interpreted
Compared against an age-matched reference population, expressed as percentiles.
-
Tracks change over time
Serial scans allow year-on-year monitoring of brain-volume trajectory.
-
Complements neurology
Sits alongside — not instead of — a neurology or memory-clinic assessment.
-
A layer on the MRI
Not a substitute for radiologist reporting of the MRI itself.
Indicative pricing
What a BrainKey scan costs in London.
Indicative ranges across our partner clinics. Send the details and we quote firm figures across two or three options.
In short
A brain MRI with BrainKey analysis in our network: £750–£1,400, with a report typically within 7–10 days.
| Scan type | Indicative range | Typical duration | Report turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard brain MRI + BrainKey analysis | £750–£1,200 | 45 min | 7–10 days |
| 3T brain MRI + BrainKey analysis | £950–£1,400 | 45 min | 7–10 days |
| BrainKey report on existing MRI (bring your images) | £350–£650 | N/A | 7–10 days |
| Serial follow-up (12–24 month interval) | £750–£1,200 | 45 min | 7–10 days |
| Brain-health consult + BrainKey scan | £1,200–£1,800 | Half-day | 10–14 days |
| Urgent same-week slot | £1,000–£1,600 | 45 min | Same-week |
Prices vary by clinic, field strength (1.5T vs 3T), and whether a brain-health consultation is bundled. We come back with a firm quote within one working day.
The problem
A standard brain MRI describes. BrainKey quantifies.
The words in a radiology report tell you what a specialist sees. The volumetric numbers tell you where you sit against people your age — and, crucially, whether that number is moving. We match you to a consultant neuroradiologist who reads both together.
-
Family history of dementia?
A baseline BrainKey gives you a numeric starting point and a plan calibrated to your risk.
-
Cognitive concerns you want quantified?
Volumetric percentiles complement — but do not replace — formal cognitive assessment.
-
Wanting to track brain-health over time?
Serial BrainKey scans turn a single reassurance into a trajectory.
The journey
From scan to serial monitoring — what happens, in order.
A standard brain MRI, plus an AI volumetric layer, plus a consultant-led plan you can act on.
Phase 1 · Before your scan
Concierge, off-stage for you
Phase 2 · Acquisition and AI processing
~45 minutes at the clinic
Phase 3 · After
Concierge, back on
- 01
Before
Standard brain MRI acquired
A 1.5T or 3T brain MRI is booked at a partner clinic — no additional scanner time or contrast beyond a standard protocol.
- 02
Before
Volumetric sequence uploaded
The 3D volumetric sequence is uploaded securely to the BrainKey platform for AI post-processing.
- 03
Acquisition
AI segmentation of 40+ regions
The BrainKey engine segments cortical and subcortical regions and calculates individual volumes.
- 04
Acquisition
Percentile report generated
Each region is compared against an age-matched reference population, producing a percentile-based report.
- 05
After
Radiologist and consultant review
A consultant neuroradiologist reviews the volumetric output alongside the underlying MRI for clinical interpretation.
- 06
After
Structured brain-health plan
You receive a written plan — lifestyle, cardiovascular optimisation, referrals — calibrated to the findings.
- 07
After
Serial monitoring at intervals
Follow-up BrainKey scans at defined intervals track volume trajectory over time.
Typical end-to-end: 10–14 days. Existing MRI upload: 7–10 days.
What it shows
What the BrainKey report actually contains.
BrainKey quantifies structure and change. These are the specific outputs a consultant neuroradiologist reads alongside the underlying MRI.
-
Whole-brain volume percentile
Total brain parenchymal volume against an age-matched reference population.
-
Hippocampal volume
Memory-relevant structure — key marker in early Alzheimer’s-type change.
-
Cortical and subcortical regional volumes
Frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital cortex plus thalamus, caudate and putamen.
-
White-matter hyperintensity burden
Quantifies small-vessel disease load — a vascular brain-health marker.
-
Ventricular volume
Screens for hydrocephalus and generalised atrophy patterns.
-
Serial change over time
Year-on-year trajectory — the most clinically meaningful signal.
-
Reference-population percentiles
Every region compared against age-matched norms, not raw millilitres.
-
Red flag: focal atrophy pattern (Alzheimer’s, FTD, PSP) — memory-clinic referral
A distinct focal atrophy pattern triggers onward memory-clinic or neurology referral.
Next steps
What happens after a BrainKey report.
A percentile is a starting point. These are the concrete next steps we build around the reading.
-
Reassurance if within normal range
When percentiles sit within the expected reference band, the plan is calibrated to preserve that trajectory.
-
Lifestyle prescription
Structured guidance on exercise, sleep, diet and cognitive engagement — the evidence-based brain-health levers.
-
Cardiovascular risk optimisation
Blood pressure, lipids, glucose and vascular risk factors — the strongest modifiable driver of brain volume change.
-
Memory-clinic referral
For suspicious focal atrophy or hippocampal loss, referral into a specialist memory-clinic pathway.
-
Neurology / neuropsychology assessment
Formal cognitive testing and neurological review when the volumetric picture warrants it.
-
Serial BrainKey follow-up
Repeat scans at defined intervals so the plan is judged against real trajectory, not a single snapshot.
-
Anti-amyloid therapy pathway
Where clinically appropriate, discussion of emerging anti-amyloid treatment routes with a specialist.
-
Genetic testing for familial risk
For patients with a strong family history, targeted genetic assessment via a clinical geneticist.
Our vetted London network
A small panel of clinics, we picked them.
Partners across central, north, west and south London running BrainKey-compatible MRI protocols. Not listed publicly — introductions are made privately, once we understand your case.
Selection criteria
How we choose every clinic in our network.
-
Consultant neuroradiologists reporting the underlying MRI
-
Volumetric MRI sequence acquired to BrainKey specification
-
Percentile report reviewed alongside the raw imaging, not in isolation
-
Onward memory-clinic, neurology or neuropsychology pathway if findings warrant it
Red flags
The patterns that change the plan.
These are the findings — on either the volumetric layer or the underlying MRI — that trigger onward specialist pathway rather than routine monitoring.
-
Focal hippocampal atrophy
Disproportionate hippocampal volume loss — a marker of early Alzheimer’s-type change.
-
Frontotemporal atrophy pattern
Frontal and anterior-temporal predominant atrophy raising the possibility of FTD.
-
Progressive supranuclear palsy pattern
Midbrain and superior cerebellar peduncle atrophy suggestive of PSP.
-
Multiple sclerosis lesion burden
Demyelinating lesion load requiring formal MS pathway assessment.
-
Vascular white-matter disease
Significant small-vessel disease burden warranting vascular risk optimisation.
-
Normal-pressure hydrocephalus signs
Ventricular enlargement out of proportion to sulcal widening — a treatable pattern.
-
Space-occupying lesion missed on original MRI
Any lesion the original report may not have foregrounded is flagged on review.
-
Cerebral microbleeds
Susceptibility-weighted microbleeds carrying vascular and amyloid implications.
-
Superficial siderosis
Cortical surface haemosiderin deposition, a marker of prior subarachnoid bleeding.
Reading your report
A BrainKey report can look intimidating. It isn’t.
Whatever the finding, the report keeps to the same four parts.
A quiet reminder
The report is written for your doctor, not for you — and that’s normal.
If you would like us to talk you through it before your follow-up, just ask.
- 01 Header
Indication and demographics
Your details, the reason for the scan, and the age-matched reference cohort used for percentile comparison.
- 02 Technique
MRI protocol and BrainKey processing
Scanner field strength, volumetric sequence details, and confirmation of BrainKey segmentation quality.
- 03 Findings
Regional volumes and percentiles
Region-by-region volumes with percentile against age-matched norms, plus white-matter hyperintensity burden.
- 04 Impression
The conclusion: read this first
Normal, at-risk or suspicious pattern, with the concrete next step — read this first.
Recognised by major UK insurers
Cover for AI post-processing depends on your policy and clinic; we confirm with your insurer before booking.
Frequently asked
Everything we get asked about the BrainKey scan.
Quick answers on what BrainKey adds, whether it diagnoses dementia, follow-up intervals, and what a low percentile actually means.
-
What does a BrainKey scan actually add to a standard brain MRI?
It adds a volumetric, percentile-based layer. A standard MRI report describes what a radiologist sees; BrainKey quantifies the volume of 40-plus brain regions and compares each against an age-matched reference population — giving a numeric baseline you can track over time.
-
Does BrainKey diagnose dementia?
No. BrainKey is a monitoring and risk-stratification tool. It can flag patterns consistent with early neurodegeneration, but a diagnosis of dementia — Alzheimer’s, FTD, PSP or otherwise — requires clinical assessment, cognitive testing and specialist review.
-
Is BrainKey a replacement for the radiologist’s MRI report?
No. The underlying MRI is still reported in the standard way by a consultant neuroradiologist. BrainKey sits on top as an additional volumetric analysis — the two are read together.
-
How often should a BrainKey scan be repeated?
For brain-health monitoring in an asymptomatic adult, a typical interval is every 12–24 months. Serial change is far more informative than any single scan, so the schedule is calibrated to your baseline and risk profile.
-
What if my percentiles are low?
A low percentile is a starting point, not a diagnosis. It triggers a structured plan — cardiovascular optimisation, lifestyle prescription, and, where warranted, memory-clinic or neurology referral. Many people with low percentiles have entirely stable trajectories on follow-up.
-
Is the scan itself safe?
The scan is a standard brain MRI — no radiation, no injected contrast in most protocols, and no known long-term risks. BrainKey is post-processing of images already acquired, so it adds no additional exposure.
Sources and further reading
- NICE. Dementia: assessment, management and support for people living with dementia and their carers (NG97).
- Alzheimer’s Association. Appropriate-use criteria for structural imaging in dementia assessment.
- Royal College of Radiologists. Standards for neuroimaging.
- Radiological Society of North America. Structural MRI in neurodegenerative disease.
Reviewed 2026-07-30 by Pulse Atlas Editorial Board, . Next review 2027-07-30. Reading time ~6 minutes.
Related tests
Looking for a different test?
-
Brain MRI
The underlying scan BrainKey adds a volumetric layer to.
Learn more -
Whole-body MRI
Head-to-pelvis MRI for asymptomatic screening in a single session.
Learn more -
Amyloid scan
PET-based amyloid imaging for suspected Alzheimer’s pathway.
Learn more -
All tests
Browse every test and procedure we arrange.
Learn more -
Migraine
Related condition guide.
Learn more -
Multiple Sclerosis
Related condition guide.
Learn more -
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Related treatment option.
Learn more -
Craniotomy
Related treatment option.
Learn more
In practice, in London
The London pathway for brainkey scan
With brainkey scan, the London question is usually about report turnaround and the radiologist reading it — not whether the scan is available. Public provision for brainkey scan is competent but constrained by capacity. Private London clinics tend to have shorter diaries and longer appointment slots, so you get the same specialists with more time. For people who’ve been going round in circles with primary care, that first proper conversation is often what shifts things.
The mechanics are straightforward: a consultant appointment, any tests done at a nearby CQC-registered site, and a written report back within a few days. London’s density of private diagnostics — Marylebone, the City, Chelsea, Canary Wharf — means most patients can find something that fits around work without a cross-town trek. For brainkey scan specifically, the difference between a routine report and a sub-speciality read is where private care earns its keep.
Where a good concierge earns its keep is in the matching. There are dozens of consultants in London who see brainkey scan — but not all of them are the right fit for every case. We narrow it down based on subspecialty, insurer coverage, the specific question being asked, and whether continuity into treatment matters. The right first appointment saves you from repeating yourself later.