Your brain changes physically when you work too much, warn scientists

New research has found that being too worked can physically alter the brain.

South Korea researchers set out to understand how the long hours of cognitive and emotional health of employees affect.

The study, published in the Occupational Magazine and Environmental Medicine, evaluated the brain volume of 110 healthcare workers who were classified by the excessive work categories (which worked greater than or equal to 52 hours a week) and did not work.

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The results revealed that individuals with too much work had “significant changes” in the brain regions associated with executive function and emotional regulation.

The co-author of the study, Wanhyung Lee, MD, PhD, assistant professor at Chung-Ang University College of Medicine in Seoul, told Fox News Digital that this is one of the first studies to examine the relationship between extended working hours and changes in the structural brain.

“At first we did not have clear expectations about what we could discover,” he said. “Therefore, we found the especially intriguing results.”

The researcher said that the increase in brain volume associated with cognitive and emotional functions was an “unexpected and fascinating” observation of the study.

“These findings open new questions and emphasize the complexity of how chronic labor stress can affect brain health, emphasizing the need for more detailed research,” he said.

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Increased brain volume as observed in the regions associated with executive functions, Lee said, such as memory, decision -making and care, as well as emotional regulation, such as stress management and emotional stability.

While these changes may initially reflect the need to manage “continuous labor stress”, according to Lee, there could be possible risks of prolonged or chronic alterations.

This could include neuronal tension, inflammation or maladaptive reorganization.

“Although our current study cannot definitively determine long -term impacts, continuous exposure without sufficient recovery can negatively affect cognitive and emotional health,” he said.

Lee urged employees to work excessive hours to recognize that chronic stress can lead to physical brain changes, not just psychological complications. This emphasizes the need to manage the workload, prioritize rest and maintain emotional balance.

“At the same time, individual efforts are not enough; organizational support and proactive management of companies to create healthy working conditions are essential to protect the brain health of employees,” he said.

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“With the fast breakthrough of smartphones and digital technology, work extends more and more beyond traditional office hours until personal time, making chronic overload more common and less visible,” continued Lee. “Businessmen and policymakers must also recognize and address these evolving employment patterns to support sustainable work environments.”

The researcher acknowledged the progressive advance towards becoming a “excess society”. He urged employees to “actively fix the boundaries, to ensure rest and recover regularly, to practice stress management and to defend the policies of the workplace that clearly define and respect the limits of healthy working hours.”

Paul Saphier, a neurosurgeon and founder of Coaxial Neurosurgical Specialists in New Jersey, did not participate in the study, but instead commented on the findings in an interview with Fox News Digital.

Saphier considered the study interesting, but not “too surprising”.

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“There is no doubt that stress and mental fatigue, whether with sleep deprivation, anxiety, long periods of intense concentration, etc., lead to an alteration in the release of neurotransmitters and additional physiological changes,” he said. “This can lead to anatomical changes within the brain.”

Experts have learned that professions that require “sharp cognitive awareness” with “zero space space”, such as airline pilots and medical professionals, benefit from “consecutive limited hours of work to reduce mistakes,” said the neurosurgeon.

Kyle Elliott, a technology and mental health career coach, also weighed during a separate interview with Fox News Digital.

“Take care of your health and mental well -being is essential if you want to be a productive employee,” he said.

“Neglecting your mental health can not only affect your ability to work effectively, but also adversely affect your physical health and longevity.”

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Elliot encouraged employees to defend their needs.

“Don’t be afraid to talk [at work or to employers] If you need to take a break or free time to protect your mental or physical health, “he said.” Your mind and body will thank you in the long run. “

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The expert suggested to take smaller measures to preserve mental health and to prevent a sprouting, such as making breaks allocated throughout the working day, connecting with people who are secure to share their frustration and limit their time on social media.