New research from Mass General Brigham suggests that individuals with a history of traumatic brain injury (TBI) may face a higher risk of developing malignant brain tumors. The study analyzed health records from more than 75,000 people between 2000 and 2024, covering mild, moderate, and severe TBI cases.
Findings, published in JAMA Network Open, indicate that those with moderate to severe TBIs were significantly more likely to develop malignant brain tumors than those without a TBI history.
“These results are alarming,” said Saef Izzy, MD, FNCS, FAAN, co-senior author and head of the Immunology of CNS Injury Program at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “Our work over the past five years has shown that TBI is a chronic condition with lasting effects. Evidence of a potential increased risk of malignant brain tumors adds urgency to shift the focus from short-term recovery to lifelong vigilance.”
The research team categorized TBIs by severity, encompassing incidents from car accidents to falls. Among participants with moderate or severe TBI, 0.6% (87 of 14,944) developed brain tumors within three to five years—higher than in control groups.
Mild TBIs, such as concussions, were not associated with increased tumor risk. The study does not establish a cause-and-effect relationship but highlights a significant association warranting further research.
The study involved collaboration with Northwestern University, the University of California San Francisco, the University of Texas Health Science Center, and the University of Missouri. Previous research among Iraq and Afghanistan war veterans suggested a similar link, but civilian studies had produced inconsistent results. Researchers excluded individuals with prior brain tumors, benign tumors, or other risk factors, including radiation exposure, using international disease classification codes.
“While there is an increased tumor risk following TBI, the overall likelihood remains low,” said lead author Sandro Marini, MD, neurologist at Mass General Brigham. “Nonetheless, brain tumors are devastating and often detected at later stages. Our findings open the door for closer monitoring of patients with moderate-to-severe TBI.”
Past studies from Mass General Brigham have linked TBI to anxiety, depression, cardiovascular, and other neurological conditions. Future research aims to investigate whether repeated injuries or the location of the brain injury influences tumor development.
