Working More Than 52 Hours a Week Profoundly Changes Brain Structure, Reveals Scientific Study
A recent study published in the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine has established a direct link between excessive work hours and physical transformations in the brain, particularly affecting areas responsible for problem-solving, memory, and mental health. According to the Evening Standard, which reported on the study consulted by Al-Arabiya.net, researchers analyzed the brain structure of 110 healthcare professionals, mostly doctors, using MRI scans. Among them, 32 worked regularly more than 52 hours a week, while 78 maintained standard hours. The research team, including scientists from Yonsei University in South Korea, observed significant changes in brain regions associated with executive functions and emotional regulation. The left dorsolateral and caudal prefrontal cortex showed a 19% increase in volume in the group suffering from professional burnout compared to the control group.
Cognitive and Emotional Consequences
This part of the brain plays a crucial role in various cognitive functions, particularly in the frontal lobe. The scans also revealed changes in other areas involved in attention, planning, decision-making, emotional processing, self-awareness, and social context understanding. "This study provides preliminary evidence that professional burnout is associated with structural changes in the brain, particularly in regions related to cognition and emotions," the researchers concluded. "These results provide new neurobiological evidence linking long working hours to structural brain changes, highlighting the need for further research to understand the long-term cognitive and emotional effects."
A Public Health Issue
The findings emphasize the urgency of addressing burnout as a major occupational health problem. Ruth Wilkinson, Director of Policy and Public Affairs at the British Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, stated: "A global analysis by the WHO and the International Labor Organization shows that long working hours are on the rise and account for about a third of the estimated total burden of work-related diseases." She added: "We believe urgent action is needed to combat this epidemic of overtime. This culture manifests in the subtle details of daily working life, embodying implicit or unspoken expectations that add to workers' contracts." The study calls for the adoption of policies in the workplace to limit excessive working hours and protect employees' neurological health.
