‍How Salma Health Uses Advanced Diagnostics to Personalize Care

When it comes to brain health, precision matters. For too long, healthcare has relied on trial and error, forcing people to spend months or years searching for relief. The result is a system that reacts to crises instead of anticipating them.

At Salma Health, we are building what will be the best brain healthcare system imaginable. Our goal is to rapidly deliver the right treatments to the right person at the right time and to adapt care as needs evolve.

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Seeing the Brain Clearly

The brain is not static. It is a constantly adapting network of billions of neurons that communicate through electrical and chemical signaling. These neurons form circuits responsible for every thought, emotion and behavior we experience. When those circuits lose coordination because of trauma, depression or chronic stress, the brain’s ability to regulate mood, attention and motivation can break down.

In people with mood or anxiety disorders, disruptions often occur between two key networks. The default mode network (DMN) manages internal thoughts and emotional processing, while the central executive network (CEN) supports higher-level functions such as focus, planning and problem-solving. When these systems become stuck in maladaptive loops, people can feel trapped in cycles of rumination and emotional exhaustion.

Traditional psychiatry relies heavily on what patients recall about their symptoms. It is similar to asking a pilot to fly an aircraft without instruments. Advanced diagnostics change that by allowing us to see the brain’s inner workings. With tools like MRI, EEG, neurocognitive testing and biomarker analysis, we can measure activity and connectivity across brain regions in real time.

These technologies provide clinicians with an objective view of what is happening inside the brain and a clearer understanding of where to initiate treatment.

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From Data to Decision

No two brains are the same. Two people might both be diagnosed with depression, yet the biological pathways contributing to their symptoms may differ entirely. This is why standardized treatment approaches so often fall short.

At Salma Health, advanced diagnostics form the foundation of our personalized care model. We combine imaging, cognitive data and biological measures to create a multidimensional map of each person’s brain function. Artificial intelligence (AI) helps us interpret those data and identify which interventions are most likely to work for each individual.

For example, functional MRI can reveal disruptions between the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) and the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex (sgACC), two regions that are central to mood regulation. In depression, the DLPFC often shows reduced activity while the sgACC becomes overactive, reinforcing negative self-directed thoughts.

Treatments like SAINT® neuromodulation therapy, developed at the Stanford Brain Stimulation Lab, target these specific circuits. 

SAINT therapy uses magnetic stimulation patterns to restore balance between the DLPFC and sgACC, helping the brain relearn healthier communication. Clinical studies show that SAINT has achieved remission rates of 80% to 90% in people with treatment-resistant depression, within just five days.

These results show what is possible when neuroscience and medicine come together to create precision-guided care. Patients recover faster and more fully because their treatment aligns with their unique brain biology.

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The Human Side of Technology

Technology alone does not heal people. Its value comes from how it helps us understand and connect with them.

Many of patients come to me after years of being told their condition is “treatment-resistant.” What I often discover is not resistance, but a mismatch between the therapy and the underlying brain circuitry. When we match the right treatment to the right person at the right time, improvement can be rapid and long-lasting.

I have seen people who once felt hopeless regain function within days. I have seen people who could not leave their homes rediscover motivation and purpose. True healing is not only about reducing symptoms. It is about restoring function and helping each person live as their full and authentic self.

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Building a Proactive System

Our goal is not only to treat illness but also to prevent it. The healthcare system often waits for people to reach a breaking point before acting. The future of brain health depends on identifying signs of disease early and adjusting care before a crisis or acute situation occurs.

Imagine a system where every patient’s advanced diagnostic data are integrated into one platform. Clinicians can instantly see prior neuroimaging, lab results and treatment responses, giving them the information needed to act quickly. This is the kind of precision-guided system we are building at Salma Health, one that allows clinicians to combine scientific insight with human care to achieve better outcomes.

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Helping People Become Their True Selves

Advanced diagnostics are not about collecting data for its own sake. They are about understanding the brain deeply enough to help people live closer to their potential.

At Salma Health, care does not end when symptoms improve. Brain health is a lifelong process that changes with time. Our brain health system is designed to adapt as our patients do, providing continuous insight and support at every stage. We are creating a system that is engineered get people better and keep them better. We are not satisfied with helping patients survive. We want them to thrive. Every decision we make is guided by science, powered by technology and grounded in compassion.

When care begins with understanding and continues with partnership, outcomes improve and lives change. 

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About the Author
Brandon Bentzley, M.D., Ph.D., is a Stanford-trained psychiatrist and neuroscientist. His work focuses on the neural circuits involved in depression and the development of advanced, personalized treatments for brain health.