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

New research has found that being overloaded with work can physically alter the brain.

Researchers in South Korea set out to understand how long -hour work affects the cognitive and emotional health of employees.

The study, published in the magazine Occupational & Environmental Medicine, evaluated the brain volume of 110 health workers who were classified by the categories of excessive work, which works greater than or equal to 52 hours per week, and not superior.

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The results revealed that people with excess of work exhibited “significant changes” in the brain regions associated with the executive function and emotional regulation.

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

“Initially we had no clear expectations regarding what we could discover,” he said. “Therefore, we find the particularly 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 underline the complexity of how chronic occupational stress could affect brain health, highlighting the need for detailed research more,” he said.

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The increase in brain volume as observed in regions associated with executive functions, said Lee, such as memory, decision making and attention, as well as emotional regulation, such as stress management and emotional stability.

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

This could include neuronal tension, inflammation or maladaptive reorganization.

“Although our current study cannot conclude 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 changes in the brain, not just psychological complications. This emphasizes the need to manage the workload, prioritize rest and maintain emotional balance.

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

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“With the rapid advance of smartphones and digital technology, work extends more and more beyond traditional office hours to personal time, making chronic work more common and less visible,” Lee continued. “Employers and policy formulators must also recognize and address these evolving work patterns to support sustainable work environments.”

The researcher recognized the progressive movement to become an “excessive society.” He urged employees to “actively establish limits, guarantee regular rest and recovery, practice stress management and advocate for the policies of the workplace that clearly define and respect the healthy limits of work hours.”

Dr. Paul Saphier, neurosurgeon and founder of coaxial neurosurgical specialists in New Jersey, did not participate in the study, but commented on the findings in an interview with News Digital.

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

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

Experts have known that professions that require “clear cognitive awareness” with “zero space for error”, such as airline pilots and medical professionals, benefit from “limited consecutive work hours to reduce errors,” said the neurosurgeon.

Kyle Elliott, a technological career coach and mental health expert based in California, also intervened during a separate interview with News Digital.

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

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

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Elliot encouraged employees to advocate their needs.

“Don’t be afraid of speaking [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 term. “

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The expert suggested taking smaller measures to preserve mental health and prevent exhaustion, such as taking breaks assigned during the workday, connecting with safe people to share their frustration and limit time on social networks.