The more brain cells you have, the higher the risk of developing cancer
| Nov 1, 2018, 12:41 IST
A recent study conducted claims that the bigger the brain you have, the higher is the risk of developing brain cancer. Why, you ask? A large brain means more brain cells, and the more cells you have, the more cell divisions that can go wrong and create mutations that lead to cancer, said Even Hovig Fyllingen, a PhD candidate at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).
"Aggressive brain cancer is a rare type of cancer, but once you have it, the chance of survival is relatively low," Fyllingen said. "Several studies have shown that the size of different organs is an important factor in cancer development. For example, women with larger breasts have a greater risk of breast cancer. We wanted to check if this was also the case for brain tumours," he said. As part of the study conducted, researchers also found that more men than women develop brain tumours.
"Men have a larger brain than women because men's bodies are generally larger. It doesn't mean that men are smarter, but you need to have more brain cells to control a large body," said Fyllingen. "This is also the case with animals. In bigger bodies, organs like the heart, lungs and brain are also bigger," he said. "Seventy per cent more men than women develop brain tumours, but when we correct for head size, it's no longer beneficial to be female. Women with large brains are particularly susceptible," added Fyllingen.
"Aggressive brain cancer is a rare type of cancer, but once you have it, the chance of survival is relatively low," Fyllingen said. "Several studies have shown that the size of different organs is an important factor in cancer development. For example, women with larger breasts have a greater risk of breast cancer. We wanted to check if this was also the case for brain tumours," he said. As part of the study conducted, researchers also found that more men than women develop brain tumours.
"Men have a larger brain than women because men's bodies are generally larger. It doesn't mean that men are smarter, but you need to have more brain cells to control a large body," said Fyllingen. "This is also the case with animals. In bigger bodies, organs like the heart, lungs and brain are also bigger," he said. "Seventy per cent more men than women develop brain tumours, but when we correct for head size, it's no longer beneficial to be female. Women with large brains are particularly susceptible," added Fyllingen.