Epidemiological Factors in Brain Tumor Risk

Brain tumours encompass a diverse set of neoplasms whose incidence varies by age, geography and ancestry. Beyond well-established risk factors such as high-dose ionising radiation and rare hereditary syndromes, large-scale observational studies have yielded only modest associations with environmental and lifestyle factors. In paediatric populations, high birth weight, selected non-chromosomal structural birth defects and higher socioeconomic position have been linked to increased central nervous system tumour incidence. In adults, longer leukocyte telomere length, greater proportion of European genetic ancestry and specific HLA haplotypes appear to elevate risk of malignant brain tumours, whereas atopic disorders and certain immune markers confer modest protection. Metabolic traits—including obesity and diabetes—and history of common infections such as varicella zoster virus (chickenpox) have also emerged as potential modifiers of risk. Global variations in tumour rates point to interplay between inherited susceptibility, environmental exposures and immunological factors. Further elucidation of these pathways may guide targeted prevention and early-detection strategies in high-risk populations.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Longitudinal analyses in large European cohorts have demonstrated an inverse association between pre-diagnostic blood glucose levels—including clinically defined diabetes—and subsequent glioma risk. Observations that lower circulating glucose precedes diagnosis support the hypothesis that increased tumour glucose consumption may contribute to this paradoxical relationship. Variations in association strength across different cohorts and time intervals before tumour detection underscore the need for standardised metabolic assessments and time-dependent modelling in prospective studies of brain tumour aetiology.

Epidemiological Factors in Brain Tumor Risk publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in epidemiological factors in brain tumor risk across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Telomere length: The measure of protective DNA-protein complexes at chromosome ends, whose length influences genomic stability and cellular ageing.

Body mass index (BMI): A numerical index of weight relative to height (kg/m2) used to classify underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity.

HLA haplotypes: Combinations of human leukocyte antigen gene variants that regulate immune recognition and may modulate tumour susceptibility.

Socioeconomic position: An individual’s social and economic standing—often based on income, education and occupation—that can affect exposure to health determinants.

References

1. Epidemiology of Brain and Other CNS Tumors. Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports (2021).
2. Impact of atopy on risk of glioma: a Mendelian randomisation study. BMC Medicine (2018).
3. Obesity and Risk for Brain/CNS Tumors, Gliomas and Meningiomas: A Meta-Analysis. PLOS ONE (2015).
4. History of chickenpox in glioma risk: a report from the glioma international case–control study (GICC). Cancer Medicine (2016).
5. Associations between prediagnostic blood glucose levels, diabetes, and glioma. Scientific Reports (2017).
6. Association between Prediagnostic Allergy-Related Serum Cytokines and Glioma. PLOS ONE (2015).
7. Genetic Epidemiology of Glioblastoma Multiforme: Confirmatory and New Findings from Analyses of Human Leukocyte Antigen Alleles and Motifs. PLOS ONE (2009).