Men are more vulnerable to developing brain tumors due to lower levels of an anti-cancer protein.

According to researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, a protein that reduces cancer risk, known as retinoblastoma protein (RB), is much less active in brain cells in men compared to brain cells in women.

For instance, glioblastomas, the most common type of brain tumor malignancy, are diagnosed twice as much in men. In addition, the cognitive impairments as a result of such malignancies are much greater in men compared to women.

This year, it’s estimated that 23,380 adults (12,820 men and 10,560 women) in the U.S. will be diagnosed with some form of tumor of the brain and spinal cord.

Lead study author Joshua Rubin, MD, PhD, is optimistic about the findings of a sex-linked difference that is intrinsic to brain cells, which will ultimately help to better diagnose and treat brain malignancies.

Rubin and colleagues analyzed three genes to identify whether or not they were less active in male brain cells. They found that RB was more likely to be inactive in men’s brain cells compared to women’s.

“Male brain tumor risk remains higher throughout life despite major age-linked shifts in sex hormone production in males and females. If the sex hormones were causing this effect, we’d see major changes in the relative rates of brain tumors in males and females at puberty. But they don’t happen then or later in life when menopause changes female sex hormone production,” said Rubin in a statement.