A risk factor makes the chances of getting a disease or condition higher.

Some risks can't be changed such as your age or race. Brain tumors in children mainly happen in those who are under 15 years old. In adults, getting older makes the chances higher.

Risk changes with the type of tumor. Meningioma is the most common type found in adults. It's also more common in women and Blacks.

Your chances are also higher for:

• Radiation exposure—Which can come from:
  • Cancer treatment
  • X-rays or CT scans
• Working in oil refining or rubber manufacturing
• Having a rare inherited disease such as:
  • Neurofibromatosis type 1 and type 2
  • Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome
  • Li-Fraumeni syndrome
  • Werner's syndrome
  • Von Recklinghausen disease
  • Turcot syndrome
• Having a parent, brother, sister who had or have a brain tumor—raises your risk of meningioma

Cancer from other sites in the body can spread to the brain. The most common is from lung cancer.

It’s likely a mix of genes and the environment leads to cancer. You can lower your overall chances by making changes to some risk factors such as quitting smoking or eating healthier foods.