Meningioma Causes
Factors related to your age, gender, genetics, hormones and environment may cause meningiomas. From gene mutations to radiation exposure to hormonal influences, research has shown there can be different determinants that may cause this common tumor in the tissue surrounding the brain or spinal cord.
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Understanding Meningioma Risk Factors
Genetic and environmental factors can influence the risk of developing a meningioma, a primary central nervous system tumor that often forms around the brain. While genetic traits or mutations and family history may increase susceptibility, environmental factors can also play a role.
Genetic Risks
Genetics can influence the likelihood of developing meningiomas. Inherited traits and changes in our genes could influence these types of tumors. This means some people may have a higher chance of developing meningiomas due to their genetic background.
- Neurofibromatosis Type 2 (NF2)
- NF2 is a genetic condition that may increase the odds of developing meningiomas. The condition results from changes in a specific gene called NF2. There’s a 50% chance a child may inherit it from a parent with the condition. People with NF2 can be more likely to develop multiple meningiomas, which can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). They might only experience meningioma symptoms once they are 40 or older.
- Family History
- A study in the Journal of Neurosurgery reported some people may have a genetic tendency to develop meningiomas even if they don’t have NF2. If someone in your family had meningiomas, especially if a parent or sibling was diagnosed when they were young, your chances of being affected may be higher. This suggests that other genetic factors could contribute to this risk.
- Other Genetic Mutations
- A 2024 study in the Upsala Journal of Medical Sciences revealed that several other genetic changes may impact the development of meningiomas. Some of the genes involved include TRAF7, KLF4, AKT1 and SMO. These genetic changes are typically found in benign meningiomas and are often seen in tumors without NF2 mutation.
- DNA Repair Genes
- According to a study in the Journal of Neuro-Oncology, genetic differences in how our bodies repair DNA might play a role in the development of meningiomas. However, these findings are still being studied and have yet to be confirmed. This connection to DNA repair genes indicates that there could be a broader genetic inclination toward developing tumors in general.
Currently, NF2 is the most well-known genetic syndrome linked to meningiomas, but scientists are investigating other genes that could increase the risk of developing these tumors.
Environmental Exposure
Exposure to ionizing radiation is the main environmental risk factor that can cause meningiomas. This includes high doses of radiation used in treatments for conditions affecting the head or neck. This can include MRIs or X-rays — including dental X-rays prior to 1960.
According to the American Cancer Society, this risk may also apply to X-rays and other diagnostic procedures involving the head, but the research is currently inconclusive. Diagnostic radiation procedures use lower radiation levels and may have a lower risk than therapeutic radiation.
Research published in the Journal of Neurosurgery found that people who received radiation treatments faced a risk of developing meningiomas up to 9.5 times higher than those who weren’t exposed.
Research is less clear on the effect of other environmental and lifestyle factors that may cause meningiomas. However, researchers have studied several suspected causes.
- Allergies
- Cell phone use
- Hair dyes
- Head trauma
- Hormone use
- Occupational lead exposure
- Pre-existing conditions such as diabetes, hypertension and epilepsy
- Radio frequency and microwave exposure
- Smoking
Even though certain factors can increase the odds of developing meningiomas, most people exposed to these suspected causes do not get the disease. Our genes likely influence how these environmental factors affect our risk.
Hormonal Influences and Meningioma
Hormones like estrogen and progesterone might play a role in the development of meningiomas. These tumors are more common in women, which raises questions about how hormones could cause tumors.
Studies have shown that higher levels of progesterone, particularly during pregnancy or when using certain birth control methods like Depo-Provera, might encourage tumor growth. However, the role of estrogen is not well understood yet and requires more research.
The Role of Estrogen and Progesterone
Meningiomas are more common in women, which might indicate that female hormones like estrogen and progesterone impact their development. Recent research has examined how these hormones affect meningiomas and the potential benefits of hormone treatments for patients.
- Progesterone
- The body produces higher progesterone hormone levels during pregnancy and the second half of the menstrual cycle. According to a 2020 study in Frontiers in Oncology, these elevated levels may contribute to the growth of meningiomas. Additionally, a 2022 study in Endocrinology found that using some progestogens long term may increase the chances of developing these tumors.
- Estrogen
- The role of estrogen is a topic of debate. A scientific report in Nature found that some research indicates taking estrogen as part of hormone replacement therapy could lead to an increase in the growth of meningiomas. However, no other studies have found a correlation.
Depo-Provera and Meningioma Risk
A study published in March 2024 in The British Medical Journal found a significant connection between using the injectable contraceptive Depo-Provera and a higher chance of developing meningiomas. The research showed that women who used Depo-Provera were about 5.6 times more likely to develop these tumors compared to those who didn’t use the contraceptive. This risk was even higher for women who used it for over a year.
The study examined data from the French health system, focusing on more than 18,000 women who underwent surgery for meningiomas between 2009 and 2018. For each woman with a meningioma, researchers matched her with five other women who did not have this condition.
Interestingly, the study found that many meningiomas have receptors for the hormone progesterone. This could help explain why some tumors might grow in response to synthetic hormones like medroxyprogesterone acetate, which is the active ingredient in Depo-Provera.
The findings have led to concerns about the safety of long-term Depo-Provera use. Some people have filed Depo-Provera lawsuits against Pfizer, the company that makes the drug, claiming that they did not provide enough warnings about the potential risks involved.
Lifestyle and Health Factors
Being overweight and having long-term health problems like diabetes and metabolic syndrome can raise the chances of developing meningiomas. These health issues might affect how tumors grow by disrupting hormone levels, making the body less responsive to insulin and causing ongoing inflammation.
Obesity and Chronic Conditions
Being overweight or having chronic health issues could play a role in developing meningiomas.
- Obesity as a Risk Factor
- Obesity might increase the risk of developing meningioma. A research study published in Cancer Prevention Research shows that people with a body mass index of 30 or more were 48% more likely to get these tumors than those with a healthy weight.
- Metabolic Syndrome
- Obesity is part of metabolic syndrome, a condition that includes high blood sugar, cholesterol issues and high blood pressure. A "a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2024.1428142/full" target="_blank" rel="noopener">2024 study in Frontiers in Oncology found that women with all five components of metabolic syndrome are four times more likely to develop meningiomas.
- Diabetes
- Diabetes, particularly when it causes blood sugar problems, is linked to a higher risk of meningiomas. The authors of the 2024 Frontiers study wrote that this could be due to ongoing inflammation in the body and insulin resistance, which can lead to higher levels of substances that promote cell growth.
Age and Gender Trends in Meningioma Risk
Age and gender may influence the risk of developing meningiomas. According to a 2023 study in Neurology Asia, older individuals, especially those over 60, are more affected. The highest rates were in those aged 75 to 89, reaching about 22 cases per 100,000.
Women can be three times more likely than men to develop these tumors. This is particularly true between 30 and 59, where the risk can be up to 3.6 times higher.
Postmenopausal women may face a three times greater risk than premenopausal women of developing meningiomas, according to a 2020 study in Frontiers of Oncology. Hormones like estrogen and progesterone could play a role since many meningiomas have receptors for these hormones, suggesting they could boost tumor growth.
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