Head Injuries May Raise Brain Cancer Risk: Major Studies Reveal

A new wave of research, published across multiple journals including Jama Network Open, has uncovered a troubling connection: moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) may significantly increase the risk of developing malignant brain tumors later in life. While head injuries have long been linked to neurological issues like memory loss and dementia, recent studies now suggest that certain types of brain trauma could potentially trigger cancerous changes in brain tissue. Understanding this link is becoming increasingly important, especially as head injuries from contact sports, falls, and accidents remain common. The main study tracked health records of more than 75,000 participants between 2000 and 2024. Researchers found that 0.6% of those with moderate to severe traumatic brain injuries developed malignant brain tumors within three to five years post-injury—a rate significantly higher than in individuals with no history of traumatic brain injuries. Mild injuries, however, showed no increased cancer risk. A separate 2024 study involving nearly two million U.S. veterans found that moderate/severe traumatic brain injuries nearly doubled the risk of brain cancer, while penetrating traumatic brain injuries more than tripled it. Supporting data came from Afghanistan, where a case-control study found a 2.6-fold increased risk of brain tumors in people with past head trauma. In Brazil, researchers observed a 1.49-fold rise, which increased with repeated injuries. A global study further linked male meningioma cases to head injuries occurring 15 to 24 years earlier, showing a 5.4-fold increase in risk. On a cellular level, scientists at University College London (UCL) found that head injuries in mice, when combined with the loss of the tumor-suppressor gene p53, caused brain support cells (astrocytes) to become stem-like and potentially cancerous. Though the absolute risk remains low, the consistent patterns across studies suggest a real association. These findings emphasize the importance of long-term medical monitoring for those with serious head injuries and underline the urgent need for better safety measures and awareness worldwide.