The causes of brain tumors are still largely unknown, but a new study by researchers at University College London (UK) and the Karolinska Institute (Sweden) has found a link between increased risk of developing a brain tumor and obtaining a college degree.
Considering that there are more than 100 different types of primary brain tumors (of which meningiomas are the most common) and of the central nervous system, the experts wanted to further investigate the possible risk factors, using data from more than 4 , 3 million Swedes, born between 1911 and 1961 and living in Sweden in 1991.
All study subjects were monitored from 1993 to 2010 to see if they developed a primary brain tumor . In addition, they collected more data on educational level, disposable income, marital status, occupation …
From 1993-2010, 1.1 million study volunteers died and more than 48,000 emigrated. A total of 5,735 men and 7,101 women developed a brain tumor. The results revealed that men with a college education of at least 3 years were 19% more likely to develop a glioma , compared to men whose education did not go beyond compulsory education. Similarly, women with higher education had a 23% higher risk of glioma and 16% higher risk of meningioma, compared to women without these studies.
For both men and women, occupation played a key role. Thus, men with business management or similar functions had a 20% higher risk of suffering from glioma and a 50% increased risk of acoustic neuroma, compared to men who were engaged in physical jobs. Regarding women, the most professional roles represented a 26% higher risk of glioma and a 14% higher risk of meningioma, compared to women with manual or physical jobs.
The researchers emphasize, however, that despite the large sample, it is an observational study, so no cause and effect conclusions can be drawn.
The results of the study have been published in The Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.
