British researchers point to examples of lifestyle factors that they think could have played a role

The incidence rate of aggressive malignant brain tumors in England has more than doubled in recent decades. The rate of glioblastoma climbed from 2.4 to 5.0 per 100,000 people in England between 1995 and 2015, according to the study, published Wednesday in the Journal of Environmental and Public Health, CNN reports.

The new study included cancer registration data for malignant brain tumors diagnosed in England from 1995 to 2015. Within those data, which came from the UK Office of National Statistics, there were 81,135 diagnosed cases.

The researchers pointed to examples of lifestyle factors that they think could have played a role. They briefly referenced previous studies on cell phone use possibly being associated with brain tumors and changes in the brain.

The paper itself is not about cell phones; it's just about this change in the tumors ... but cell phones seem like really they're the most likely cause," said Alasdair Philips, lead author of the study and a trustee of Children with Cancer UK.

The tumors primarily are in the frontal and temporal lobe areas, by your ear and forehead, which raises the cell phone suspicion, Philips comments.

Still the researcher reassures that brain tumours are very rare and even if cell phone use could raise your brain tumor risk, it's still a very low risk. 

My advice would be if you're going to have a long call, make sure it's hands-free, but I wouldn't panic about it, either."

Several experts in the UK have cautioned that although the study found evidence of an increase in brain tumors, the suggestion that cell phone use could be responsible is not proven.