We know a big brain doesn’t make someone smarter … but it may make someone more susceptible to cancer. Dr. Even Hovig Fyllingen, of the Norwegian University of Science and Technology, wanted an answer on why that is. And a brain’s size itself may be the simple answer.
The reason people with larger brains are more likely to get cancer may be the same reason tall people are more likely to get cancer – more cells. “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 tumors,” Dr. Fylligen told EurekAlert!
Read MoreEven though men are more likely to develop cancer, Dr. Fyllingen said that women with larger brains have a greater risk of developing brain tumors than men with larger brains. “When we correct for head size, it’s no longer beneficial to be female,” the doctor said. “Women with large brains are particularly susceptible. Why that is, I have no idea.”
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