Extended work hours are linked to numerous health problems, including high stress levels, sleep disruption, heart issues, and mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
A new study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine suggests it might even alter the brain. Korean researchers discovered significant brain differences between individuals who consistently worked long hours and those who worked fewer hours.
Wanhyung Lee, from the department of preventive medicine at Chung-Ang University in Seoul, and his team examined 110 health care workers. Some worked over 52 hours weekly (considered overwork under Korean law), while others worked less. All participants underwent MRIs, enabling scientists to analyze variations in the volume and concentration of specific brain tissues.
Compared to those with typical work hours, overworked individuals displayed changes in 17 brain regions. These changes affected areas responsible for executive functions like logical thinking and emotional regulation.
Lee stated that the findings were surprising, partly because they indicate that the brain responds to stress and anxiety, potentially leading to negative outcomes. “We anticipated that prolonged stress from overwork would affect brain structure, but finding increased volume in certain brain areas was somewhat unexpected,” he wrote to TIME. “Our results suggest a potential neuroadaptive response, meaning the brain might initially try to compensate for increased cognitive and emotional demands. These surprising findings underscore the complexity of how the brain responds to prolonged occupational stress.”
Lee notes that advancements in brain imaging now allow for the detection of even minor volume differences. “These technological breakthroughs have empowered researchers to explore previously invisible biological changes induced by prolonged stress or excessive workloads, thus opening up an entirely new dimension in occupational and environmental health research.”
The changes identified by his team involve brain areas crucial for memory, decision-making, attention, planning, and problem-solving. “Changes here could impact a person’s ability to efficiently manage tasks, make decisions, and maintain concentration,” he says.
Variations in other regions could impact emotional regulation, potentially indicating reduced emotional stability, heightened anxiety, and difficulties in interpreting emotional signals or managing relationships.
Lee says it’s uncertain whether reducing workload could ease or reverse these changes, adding, “Longitudinal studies will be essential to understand if these brain structural changes are reversible or persist long-term.” He intends to conduct follow-up studies with longer-term data and larger populations to determine the long-term effects of these brain changes and whether workload adjustments can mitigate or reverse them.
In the meantime, individuals can take steps to mitigate the adverse health effects of overwork, even if they cannot reduce their hours. Adequate sleep, physical activity, and stress management techniques like mindfulness or relaxation can be beneficial. However, Lee emphasizes that the responsibility shouldn’t solely fall on employees. Businesses should limit excessive work hours, offer stress-management resources, and promote work-life balance “to protect their employees’ long-term brain health and productivity.”
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