🧠 Overwork is rewiring your brain.
Overwork is more than draining your energy—it may be physically rewiring your brain.
In this deeply researched, clinically grounded essay, I explore a groundbreaking new study that used MRI imaging to examine the brains of healthcare workers working more than 52 hours a week. The results? Structural changes in 17 key brain regions, including those responsible for memory, emotional regulation, decision-making, and attention.
As a radiation oncologist, I’ve seen firsthand the toll overwork takes on the body. But now neuroscience is showing us something even more unsettling: long hours don’t just wear you out—they may change who you are.
Inside this piece, you’ll learn:
- What the new brain imaging study revealed about chronic overwork
- Why burnout isn’t just emotional—it’s biological
- Which parts of the brain are most vulnerable to long hours and stress
- What science suggests we can do to recover and protect our minds
Whether you’re a healthcare provider, office worker, educator, or entrepreneur, this is essential reading for anyone navigating a world that celebrates productivity over peace.
Here’s an excerpt:
Most days, I aim radiation at tumors.
But the most profound insights sometimes come in the quiet moments between treatments.
I see a lot of overworked patients.
And now, neuroscience confirms what many of us have long suspected:
Overwork doesn’t just wear us down — it reshapes who we are, starting with the brain.
A recent study has illuminated something startling and validating:
The Study That Turned Heads
A groundbreaking study published in Occupational and Environmental Medicine analyzed MRI scans of 110 healthcare workers.
It found something startling:
Compared to those with standard hours, those clocking more than 52 hours a week showed structural changes in 17 brain regions.
These regions govern critical functions like decision-making, memory, attention, emotional regulation, and planning.
Jonny Gifford of the Institute for Employment Studies called the study “powerful new evidence,” explaining that these changes may explain why long hours erode judgment and resilience.
Yes, the sample was small — and limited to South Korean healthcare workers — but MRI-based neuroimaging gives it scientific weight.
Here’s where the changes show up — and why they matter.
What Does This Mean?
The affected brain areas include:
- Middle Frontal Gyrus: Working memory and attention (think: forgetting why you opened a tab).
- Insula: Emotional regulation and empathy (that short fuse? It’s not just you).
- Superior Temporal Gyrus: Processing sound and language (why everything feels “too loud” after a long day).
These changes suggest chronic overwork can reduce emotional stability, increase anxiety, and strain our closest relationships.
Use this free FRIEND LINK to get access to my whole essay on Medium.com: https://medium.com/beingwell/overwork-is-rewiring-your-brain-heres-what-neuroscience-wants-you-to-know-bc602eef88c1?sk=3ef343580f4539ac4906870c903ae381
🧩 Overwork Is Rewiring Your Brain. Here’s What Neuroscience Wants You to Know
📖 Read the full essay now on Medium
#Neuroscience #Burnout #Overwork #BrainHealth #WorkCulture #MentalHealthAwareness
