Adapted by:
Pablo Martínez-Juarez
WriterEnvironmental economist and science journalist. For a few years, I worked as a researcher on the economics of climate change adaptation. Now I write about that and much more.
Karen Alfaro
WriterCommunications professional with a decade of experience as a copywriter, proofreader, and editor. As a travel and science journalist, I've collaborated with several print and digital outlets around the world. I'm passionate about culture, music, food, history, and innovative technologies.
Fatigue affects people differently depending on the context. You’ve probably experienced it when trying to stay awake while studying for an exam or during a long trip. You may also have noticed it after a long day at work.
Significant changes. A recent study detected neurological changes in the brains of professionals who work long hours. Researchers focused on healthcare workers who put in more than 52 hours per week.
“Overwork may induce neuroadaptive changes that might affect cognitive and emotional health,” the research team said. Although this is a pilot study—so conclusions should be drawn cautiously—it provides new evidence on how overwork affects well-being and productivity.
The price of overwork. The cost of overwork goes beyond conventional occupational hazards. Researchers have linked long hours to an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders, and other health problems.
A recent study published in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives estimated that overwork contributed to nearly 750,000 deaths in 2016. That translated to the loss of more than 23 million disability-adjusted life years due to cardiovascular disease.
Overwork leaves its mark on the brain. In addition to physical risks, overwork can cause mental health problems. To understand the neurological side of this issue, the team behind the new study examined the brains of professionals in a field known for marathon workdays: medicine.
They used data from the Gachon Regional Occupational Cohort, supplementing it with magnetic resonance imaging scans. The study included 110 participants, most of them healthcare professionals. Thirty-two participants (28%) belonged to the excessive work group. The rest had standard working hours.
The researchers used voxel-based morphometry, a technique that identifies and compares regional differences in gray matter volume in the brain.
They found changes in 17 brain regions, including key areas tied to executive function and emotional regulation. In one example, the middle frontal gyrus—an area involved in core cognitive functions—showed a 19% increase in volume.
The analysis identified changes in 17 brain areas. These included the superior frontal gyrus, involved in attention, planning and decision-making, and the insula, which plays a role in emotional processing, sensory integration and understanding social context.
The study appeared in the journal Occupational & Environmental Medicine.
Small scale. The team noted several limitations that warrant caution. The study used a small sample size, and participants weren’t randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. This raises the possibility of self-selection and potential bias in the analysis.
Image | Maskmedicare Shop (Unsplash)
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