Bigger brains increase the risk of cancer?

"Aggressive brain cancer is a rare type of cancer, but once you have it, the chances of survival are relatively low," said researcher Even Hovig Fyllingen.

-The lifestyle is less important

For some types of cancer, lifestyle makes a big difference. Smokers are more likely to get lung cancer than non-smokers, for example. The lifestyle of a person counts less for the development of a brain tumor.

A large brain means more brain cells. And the more cells you have, the more cell divisions that can go wrong and create mutations leading to cancer.

-Great organs, bigger risk

"Several studies have shown that the size of different organs is an important factor in the development of cancer.For example, women with large breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer.We wanted to check if it was also the case for brain tumors, "said Fyllingen.

-Most men with brain tumors

The study also shows that more men than women develop brain tumors.

"Men have bigger brains than women because their body is usually bigger, but that does not mean that men are smarter, but you need more brain cells to control a large body." In large bodies, organs such as the heart, lungs and brain are also larger, "said Fyllingen.

Yet, it turns out that women with big brains run a greater risk of developing brain tumors than men with big brains.

"Seventy percent more men than women develop brain tumors, but when we adjust according to the size of the head, it is no longer advantageous to be a woman. Women with a big brain are particularly susceptible, so why I have no idea, "Fyllingen said.

(This story has not been changed by Business Standard staff and is generated automatically from a syndicated feed.)