Scientists reveal a new working pattern that can cause brain damage: All you must know

Among the many things in life that are stressful to a level that they are harmful, work is one. While working stimulates the brain to think in ways that are surprising and interesting, too much of anything isn't good for your health. Many previous studies have found shift work to be the root cause of heart and mental health risks, now they have found a new factor in work life that can cause brain damage.

According to a new study published in the journal Occupational And Environmental Medicine, "overworking" can alter the structure of the brain, causing massive impacts on problem-solving and memory. If a person is working 9-5, they'll typically spend about 40 hours a week toiling at their desk, however, these hours can increase on any or all given days.

Scientists have classified overworking as clocking in more than 52 hours a week, and for the study, they analysed how long working hours affected the brains of health workers who regularly logged in for more than 52 hours a week.

In order to assess the impact of working conditions on the brain structure, scientists drew data from a long-term study that used MRI. In their final analysis, they included 110 people, out of which 32 worked for a surprising 78 standard hours.

The shocking results


The results revealed that people who worked 52 hours or more in a week "exhibited significant changes in brain regions associated with executive function and emotional regulation," as opposed to those participants who worked standard hours. Additionally, part of the brain associated with planning and decision-making was also affected.

"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," said researchers of the study.

A team of researchers from the Yonsei University in South Korea shared that overworking had previously been linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, metabolic disorders and mental health issues. They also cited figures from the International Labour Organisation, which estimated that overwork kills more than 800,000 people every year.

Start saying 'NO' to overwork


In the digital age, where it is almost impossible to be disconnected from your work as it is accessible in every device you own, is it important that you set some polite boundaries to maintain your health. Some ways to politely say no to overwork is by being honest about your work load, offering alternatives such as different deadlines and being assertive with your boundaries when you feel that working more could potentially impact your health.