Could Long Hours at Work Change Your Brain?
Research suggests that working excessively long hours each week may lead to physical changes in the brain, especially in areas related to thinking, memory, and emotional control.
Key Brain Areas May Be Affected by Overwork
According to new research published in Occupational & Environmental Medicine, working 52 or more hours a week could change the structure of certain brain regions. These include the middle frontal gyrus and superior frontal gyrus, which are responsible for critical mental functions like decision-making, attention, and memory. Changes were also seen in the insula, a part of the brain that helps process emotions and bodily sensations.
Why This Matters
Long working hours have already been linked to serious health risks such as heart disease, diabetes, and mental health issues like anxiety and depression. The International Labour Organisation (ILO) reports that overwork contributes to more than 800,000 deaths each year worldwide.
This study adds new insight by suggesting that overwork might also be physically reshaping the brain, possibly leading to cognitive and emotional problems in affected individuals.
What the Study Looked At
The researchers used brain imaging technology to examine healthcare workers, a group known for high work demands. They studied 110 participants, mostly clinicians, from the Gachon Regional Occupational Cohort Study (GROCS). About 30% of them worked 52 or more hours per week, while the rest worked standard hours.
The team used MRI scans and a technique called voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to identify differences in brain volume between the two groups.
Significant Brain Volume Differences Found
Those working long hours had noticeable increases in the size of brain regions tied to working memory, attention, and emotion regulation. For example, the middle frontal gyrus was found to be 19% larger in the overworked group. While that may sound positive, these increases may reflect the brain adapting to stress in ways that are not yet fully understood.
The insula, involved in emotional awareness and processing, also showed size changes, indicating that overwork might affect not just how people think but also how they feel and respond to stress.
Are These Changes Harmful?
It’s too early to say for certain. Since this was a small, observational study, the researchers cannot confirm whether overwork caused these brain changes, or whether people with these brain structures are more likely to tolerate long hours.
However, the researchers suggest that the changes may be a sign of the brain trying to adapt to chronic stress. These adaptations could eventually lead to emotional and cognitive strain.
Conclusion
It’s too early to say for certain. Since this was a small, observational study, the researchers cannot confirm whether overwork caused these brain changes, or whether people with these brain structures are more likely to tolerate long hours.
However, the researchers suggest that the changes may be a sign of the brain trying to adapt to chronic stress. These adaptations could eventually lead to emotional and cognitive strain.
Source: Inputs from various media Sources
Priya Bairagi
Reviewed by Dr Aarti Nehra (MBBS, MMST)
I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.
