Study.. Overwork Affect Parts of the Brain Responsible for Problem-Solving & Memory
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Working long hours completely changes the structure of the brain |
A recent scientific study has concluded that working long hours may completely change the structure of the brain, meaning that long hours have a profound impact on a person.
According to a report published by the British newspaper, the Evening Standard, and reviewed by Al Arabiya.net, researchers found that overwork may affect the parts of the brain responsible for problem-solving and memory, and may also affect mental health.
The findings, published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, examined the impact of overwork on specific brain regions in healthcare workers who regularly work 52 hours or more per week.
The researchers drew on data from a long-term study on worker health and used MRI scans of brain structure. The final analysis included approximately 110 workers, most of whom were doctors. Of these, 32 worked excessive weekly hours, while 78 worked standard hours. Those who worked long hours per week were significantly younger, spent less time at work, and were more educated than those working standard hours.
"Individuals experiencing work burnout showed significant changes in brain regions associated with executive function and emotional regulation," said researchers, including those from Yonsei University in South Korea. The analysis showed a 19% increase in the volume of the left medial and caudal frontal gyri in the group experiencing work burnout compared to the control group.
This part of the brain plays a key role in various cognitive functions, particularly in the frontal lobe. Other regions involved in attention, planning, and decision-making were also altered according to the scans, as were regions involved in emotional processing, self-awareness, and understanding social context.
The team concluded, "This study provides preliminary evidence that work burnout is associated with structural changes in the brain, particularly in regions associated with cognition and emotion."
They added: "These findings provide new neurobiological evidence linking long working hours to structural changes in the brain, underscoring the need for further research to understand the long-term cognitive and emotional consequences of work-related burnout."
The findings underscore the importance of addressing overwork as an occupational health issue and highlight the need for workplace policies that mitigate excessive working hours.
Ruth Wilkinson, Head of Policy and Public Affairs at the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health in Britain, said: "A global analysis by the World Health Organization and the International Labour Organization has shown that working long hours is on the rise, accounting for around a third of the total estimated work-related disease burden.
" She added: "We believe urgent action is needed to tackle the long-hours epidemic. We can see the culture of long hours in what we call the minutiae of working life today. This embodies the hidden or unspoken expectations that are embedded in workers' contracts."
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