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Study Links Overwork to Structural Brain Changes in Healthcare Workers

Preliminary research suggests working over 52 hours weekly may alter brain regions tied to cognition and emotional regulation, though causality remains uncertain.

Side view of dedicated male professional working late at illuminated desk in coworking space
Image
A stock image of a woman sitting at a work desk with her hands over her eyes under her glasses.
(© Feng Yu - stock.adobe.com)

Overview

  • MRI scans of healthcare workers revealed a 19% increase in left caudal middle frontal gyrus volume in those working 52+ hours per week.
  • Changes were also observed in 17 brain regions, including areas involved in attention, decision-making, and emotional processing.
  • Researchers emphasize these findings are preliminary and do not establish whether overwork causes brain changes or reflects a predisposition.
  • The study highlights the need for workplace policies addressing excessive hours, citing overwork's known links to health risks and 800,000 annual deaths globally.
  • Younger, less experienced, and more educated individuals were disproportionately represented among those working long hours.