Working long hours may change the structure of your brain, including regions associated with emotional regulation and executive function— such as problem solving and working memory—new research has revealed.
The study analyzed the structural brain volumes of healthcare workers in South Korea who regularly clock in long working hours, defined as 52 or more hours.
The adverse health effects of overworking, which is estimated to kill more than 800,000 people every year, according to the International Labour Organization, have been well-documented. Working long hours has been linked to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders and mental health issues.
However, the underlying neurological mechanisms and anatomical changes that come with overworking have yet to be fully understood, the researchers noted.
The latest study “provides preliminary evidence that overwork is associated with structural brain changes, particularly in regions linked to cognition and emotion,” the researchers wrote.