Working long hours can physically alter the structure of the brain
New MRI data reveal the costly price of working long hours, giving researchers reason to believe that overworking may physically alter brain structure.
Published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine, the study details how working prolonged hours—well over the standard 40-hour work week—affects the brain on a structural level. The study’s findings suggest that overtime hours may lead to size alterations in brain regions associated with executive function and emotional regulation.
“Prolonged working hours have been linked to various negative health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders and mental health issues, such as depression and anxiety,” corresponding author Wanhyung Lee, DPH, from the Department of Preventive Medicine at Chung-Ang University in the Republic of Korea, and colleagues noted. “While the behavioral and psychological consequences of overwork have been well documented, little is known about its direct effects on brain structure. Prior research has suggested that chronic stress and insufficient recovery may alter brain morphology, but empirical neuroimaging evidence remains limited.”
For the study, researchers focused on the healthcare workforce, which is known to be the subject of long working hours. A group of 110 workers were divided into two groups—one considered overworked (more than 52 hours per week) and one that was not. Each individual underwent an MRI of the brain, with researchers comparing the volume of different regions between the groups.
On imaging, the overworked group showed substantial increases in volume in areas of the brain responsible for emotional regulation and cognition. Volume in the left caudal middle frontal gyrus was 19% higher in the overworked group, but these variations were not exclusive to one region—they spanned a total of 17 different areas of the brain, including the middle frontal gyrus, insula and superior temporal gyrus.
“These findings suggest that long working hours may induce neuroadaptive changes, potentially impacting cognitive and emotional health,” the authors wrote.
Although the associations between working long hours and changes in brain structure were strong, the team clarified that their findings do not offer insight into whether the alterations represent a long-term concern.
“Future research should explore the long-term implications of these structural brain changes and whether they lead to cognitive decline or mental health disorders,” the group suggested. “The results underscore the importance of addressing overwork as an occupational health concern and highlight the need for workplace policies that mitigate excessive working hours.”
Learn more about the findings here.
In addition to her background in journalism, Hannah also has patient-facing experience in clinical settings, having spent more than 12 years working as a registered rad tech. She began covering the medical imaging industry for Innovate Healthcare in 2021.