Published 1 day ago • loading... • Updated 5 hours ago

Working long hours? It could be altering the structure of your brain, new study says

A study published on May 13, 2025, in Occupational And Environmental Medicine examined 110 South Korean healthcare workers to assess how working 52 hours or more per week affects brain structure.
Researchers conducted the study to explore concerns that long working hours, defined as 52 or more hours weekly, may cause structural changes in brain regions tied to cognition and emotion.
MRI analysis revealed that workers putting in excessive hours had a 19% larger volume in the left caudal middle frontal region of the brain. This group was also characterized by being younger and having higher educational attainment compared to those working regular weekly hours.
The researchers highlighted that this pilot study offers initial biological insights into how extended working hours may lead to structural brain alterations affecting executive functions and emotional control, though they emphasize interpreting the results with caution given the study’s limited scale.
Experts called for urgent action to address long working hours due to their contribution to a significant global work-related disease burden and potential cognitive and emotional impairment.

Insights by Ground AI

Does this summary seem wrong?

39 Articles

All

Left

Center

Right

News Medical

Center

Chronic overwork may lead to changes in brain regions associated with emotion and cognition

Long working hours may alter the structure of the brain, particularly the areas associated with emotional regulation and executive function, such as working memory and problem solving, suggest the findings of preliminary research, published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine.

12 hours ago·United States

Read Full Article