Posted Aug 25, 2023 8:47pm ET
The study found that night shift work was associated with impairment in memory function, while rotating shift work was associated with impairment in executive function. (Photo: pexels)
Night work or rotating shifts can be exhausting, but a recent study by researchers at York University found that shift work can also have a negative impact on memory and thinking skills in middle-aged and older adults.
The peer-reviewed study, published in the open-access journal PLOS ONE, involved nearly 50,000 adults who worked outside of the traditional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours. The dataset included self-reported details of employment and work schedules, as well as cognitive function test results.
The study also found that 21 percent of participants had experienced some form of shift work at some point in their careers. However, higher rates of cognitive impairment were observed in people who indicated they were currently exposed to night shift work or had worked night shifts in their longest job than in those who only worked day shifts.
Examining specific areas of cognitive function, the study found that night shift work was associated with impairment in memory function, while rotating shift work was associated with impairment in executive function.
Disrupting our body’s natural sleep patterns from shift work could impair how our brains function as we age, according to the study’s authors.
“The study results suggest a possible connection between the stress of shift work and the impairment of cognitive functions.” so the authors. “We speculate that perturbing circadian stimuli may play a role in neurodegeneration leading to cognitive impairment; However, further studies are needed to confirm the association between shift work and cognitive impairment and any physiological pathways underlying the mechanism.”
Reporting for this story was funded by the Meta-funded Afghan Journalists in Residence Project.
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