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Diagnostics

NeuroQuant Volumetric Analysis: Numbers Your Radiologist Doesn’t Give You

Standard brain MRI reports describe what the radiologist sees. NeuroQuant measures what they cannot—regional brain volumes quantified to the cubic centimeter, compared against thousands of age-matched healthy brains, and reported as objective percentile rankings that track change over time.

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From “Looks Normal” to Measured Reality

Here is the problem with most brain MRI reports. The radiologist looks at the images, compares what they see to their mental model of normal anatomy, and writes a narrative impression. “No acute intracranial abnormality.” Or perhaps: “Mild generalized volume loss, age-appropriate.” That second phrase covers a vast range of clinical realities, from genuinely normal aging to early neurodegeneration that warrants intervention.

NeuroQuant eliminates the guesswork. Developed by CorTechs Labs and cleared by the FDA for clinical use, NeuroQuant automatically segments a high-resolution brain MRI into over 40 distinct anatomical structures and measures the volume of each one. Those volumes are then compared against a normative database of healthy individuals matched by age and sex. The output is a report showing each structure’s volume in cubic centimeters and as a percentile ranking. A hippocampus at the 3rd percentile is not “age-appropriate volume loss.” It is a measurably small hippocampus, and that distinction changes clinical decision-making.

Brewer et al. (2009) demonstrated that automated hippocampal volumetry identified patients with mild cognitive impairment who would progress to Alzheimer’s dementia with significantly greater accuracy than visual MRI assessment alone. The human eye cannot reliably detect volume changes below 10 to 15 percent. NeuroQuant detects changes as small as 2 to 3 percent. That margin is where early intervention lives.

What This Reveals That Standard Imaging Misses

A standard brain MRI can identify a tumor, a stroke, or a large area of tissue loss. What it cannot do reliably is detect gradual, symmetrical volume loss in specific brain regions—exactly the pattern that defines early neurodegenerative disease. When both hippocampi shrink at the same rate, neither side looks abnormal relative to the other. The radiologist describes the scan as unremarkable. The patient is told their brain looks fine. And the disease progresses.

NeuroQuant catches this because it compares your volumes against an external reference population, not against your own contralateral anatomy. Ross et al. (2015, Alzheimer’s & Dementia) showed that NeuroQuant volumetric analysis identified neurodegenerative changes in patients whose conventional MRI reports were read as normal. The clinical implications are substantial: patients who are losing brain volume at an accelerated rate can be identified years earlier, when metabolic optimization, vascular risk factor management, and targeted laboratory evaluation can still alter the trajectory.

For traumatic brain injury, the value is equally clear. Conventional MRI is frequently normal after concussion. NeuroQuant can quantify diffuse cortical volume loss that develops over months following injury—the kind of change that explains persistent symptoms in patients whose standard imaging was called unremarkable. Paired with diffusion tensor imaging, volumetric analysis provides an objective, reproducible picture of post-traumatic brain change that serial clinical examinations alone cannot match.

When Dr. Orr Orders This Study

NeuroQuant volumetric analysis is included in our NeuroCognitive MRI protocol when the clinical question requires objective measurement of brain volume. These are the scenarios where quantification changes management.

Alzheimer’s & Dementia Workup

Hippocampal volume below the 5th percentile in a patient with progressive memory loss is a significant diagnostic finding. NeuroQuant detects medial temporal atrophy years before it becomes visible on visual MRI assessment, enabling earlier intervention.

Traumatic Brain Injury

Serial NeuroQuant measurements after TBI quantify cortical and subcortical volume changes over time. This provides objective evidence of post-traumatic atrophy that standard imaging reports miss and that correlates with persistent cognitive and neurological symptoms.

Treatment Response Monitoring

When a patient is undergoing metabolic optimization or other interventions for cognitive decline, serial volumetric measurements provide objective evidence of whether the treatment is stabilizing brain volume, slowing atrophy, or having no measurable effect.

Hydrocephalus Assessment

NeuroQuant precisely measures ventricular volume and calculates the ventricle-to-brain ratio. In suspected normal pressure hydrocephalus, this quantification distinguishes true ventriculomegaly from ex-vacuo dilation secondary to cortical atrophy—a distinction that determines whether surgical shunting is appropriate.

Baseline Brain Health

For patients pursuing proactive brain health optimization, a baseline NeuroQuant report establishes objective volumetric measurements that future scans can be compared against. This is the only way to detect accelerated volume loss before symptoms emerge.

Dementia Subtype Differentiation

Different dementias produce different patterns of regional atrophy. Alzheimer’s preferentially affects the hippocampus and medial temporal lobe. Frontotemporal dementia targets frontal and anterior temporal cortex. NeuroQuant maps which regions are affected, supporting accurate subtype classification alongside PET metabolic imaging.

What the Report Looks Like and What It Costs

NeuroQuant volumetric analysis is included in our NeuroCognitive brain MRI protocol at $900 total. The report is generated automatically from the same high-resolution 3D T1-weighted sequence that is part of our standard neurological MRI protocol. No additional scan time is required. No additional cost.

The NeuroQuant report displays color-coded brain maps with each segmented region labeled and measured. Volume is reported in cubic centimeters and as a percentile relative to the normative database. A trendline report is available for patients with prior scans, showing whether each region is stable, declining at a normal rate, or declining at an accelerated rate. This is the longitudinal data that makes treatment monitoring objective rather than subjective.

Dr. Orr reviews every NeuroQuant report alongside the full structural MRI, neurological examination, cognitive testing, and laboratory findings. A volume at the 8th percentile means something different in a 45-year-old executive with subjective memory complaints than in a 72-year-old with documented progressive dementia. The measurement is automated. The interpretation is not.

We provide detailed superbills and medical documentation for patients who wish to submit to their insurance for potential out-of-network reimbursement.

Related Diagnostics & Imaging

MRI of the Brain & Spinal Cord

The foundational structural imaging study. NeuroQuant volumetric analysis is generated from the same high-resolution 3D acquisition that drives our comprehensive NeuroCognitive MRI protocol.

Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI)

While NeuroQuant measures volume, DTI measures connectivity. Together they provide a complete picture: how much brain tissue you have and how well it communicates across regions.

Brain PET Scan

NeuroQuant shows structure. PET shows function. A brain region with reduced volume on NeuroQuant and reduced metabolism on PET provides converging evidence that strengthens diagnostic confidence.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NeuroQuant and how does it work?+
NeuroQuant is an FDA-cleared software tool that automatically segments a brain MRI into dozens of anatomical regions and measures the volume of each one. It then compares those volumes against a normative database of thousands of healthy individuals matched by age and sex. The result is a report showing each brain region's volume as a percentile — whether your hippocampus, for example, is at the 5th percentile or the 60th percentile for someone your age. This turns a subjective radiological impression into an objective, reproducible measurement.
Is NeuroQuant covered by insurance?+
NeuroQuant analysis is included as part of our NeuroCognitive MRI protocol, which is $900 total. We do not bill NeuroQuant separately. We do not accept insurance directly, but we provide detailed superbills and clinical documentation that you can submit to your carrier for potential out-of-network reimbursement. Many patients find that a single comprehensive imaging study with quantitative analysis is more cost-effective than multiple standard scans that miss the findings NeuroQuant detects.
How is NeuroQuant different from a regular brain MRI reading?+
A standard brain MRI reading relies on visual assessment by a radiologist — they look at the images and describe what they see. Subtle volume loss is difficult to detect visually, especially in early-stage disease. NeuroQuant measures volume computationally, detecting changes as small as 2 to 3 percent that would be invisible to the human eye. It also provides normative comparison, telling you whether a given brain structure is small relative to healthy peers of the same age and sex, rather than relying on the subjective judgment of whether something 'looks a little small.'
Can NeuroQuant diagnose Alzheimer's disease?+
NeuroQuant does not diagnose Alzheimer's disease on its own. No single test does. What it provides is objective evidence of regional atrophy patterns that, when interpreted alongside clinical examination, cognitive testing, laboratory findings, and other imaging, contribute to an accurate diagnosis. Hippocampal volume loss below the 5th percentile in a patient with progressive memory decline is a significant data point. Dr. Orr integrates NeuroQuant findings with the full clinical picture to determine the most accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment plan.
How often should NeuroQuant be repeated?+
For monitoring purposes, NeuroQuant is typically repeated every 12 to 24 months depending on the clinical scenario. In patients undergoing treatment for neurodegenerative disease or recovering from traumatic brain injury, serial volumetric measurements provide objective evidence of whether a brain region is stable, declining, or — in some cases — showing recovery. The reproducibility of NeuroQuant's measurements makes it uniquely suited for longitudinal tracking. Visual assessment of MRI cannot reliably detect small volume changes between scans; NeuroQuant can.
What brain regions does NeuroQuant measure?+
NeuroQuant segments and measures over 40 brain structures including the hippocampus, amygdala, caudate, putamen, thalamus, cerebral cortex by lobe, lateral and third ventricles, inferior lateral ventricles, and cerebellum. Different clinical conditions produce different patterns of volume loss. Alzheimer's disease preferentially affects the hippocampus and medial temporal lobe. Frontotemporal dementia affects the frontal and anterior temporal cortex. Traumatic brain injury may show diffuse cortical volume loss. The pattern matters as much as the individual measurement.

Measure What Matters

“Looks normal” is not a measurement. NeuroQuant gives you objective, reproducible brain volume data that tracks change over time and detects atrophy that visual assessment cannot. Dr. Orr is accepting new patients at The Neurogenesis Project in St. Marys, Georgia.

Schedule Your Evaluation(912) 268-3097