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Shift work accelerates brain aging
Last reviewed: 02.07.2025
In one of the latest studies, experts have found that shift work, especially for several years in a row, has a negative impact on the brain and accelerates the aging process. Scientists have noted that with a shift work schedule, a person may begin to have problems with memory and thinking abilities, but for all the disadvantages of a shift schedule to manifest themselves, a person must work in this mode for at least 10 years. During this period, the brain ages by 6.5 years, and at least five years are required to restore all the disorders that have occurred.
Experts say that the cause is a disruption in the internal clock, which leads to stress. In addition, due to the night schedule, the body may experience a lack of vitamin D, which impairs mental abilities.
These conclusions were made by specialists from the University of Toulouse after assessing the condition of more than three thousand people.
As a result, the group that worked in shifts showed poor results on memory tests, slower information processing, and overall impaired brain function.
But Swansea University has suggested that the length of night shifts has a major impact on brain function, particularly impairing brain function.
In addition, a night work schedule, in addition to disrupting the sleep schedule, increases the development of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, depressive disorders, obesity, diabetes, and various mental disorders.
Scientists have noted that shift work negatively affects approximately 1,500 genes, which explains such a broad impact on the body.
Another study conducted by specialists not so long ago showed that disruption of the biological clock in combination with foods rich in fats and sugars can cause dangerous chronic inflammation in the body, which can eventually provoke such serious diseases as diabetes or heart disease.
During the study, which involved volunteers with a shift work schedule (medical staff, firefighters, etc.), scientists found that this type of work schedule significantly affects people's health. The human internal clock lives on a 24-hour schedule and sleep time is part of this schedule, and if it is disrupted, the entire body malfunctions.
Inflammatory processes are closely related to the bacterial composition of the intestine, and the human biological clock plays an important role in this.
During the research, the specialists conducted an experiment with male rodents. The animals' circadian rhythm was disrupted by changing their usual day/night regime. One group of rodents was fed fattier and sweeter products, while the other group was fed cereals, vegetables, etc.
As a result, in the group where the rodents ate fatty and sweet foods, a change in the bacterial composition in the intestine was revealed, which was directly related to the development of the inflammatory process.
According to scientists, people with shift work need to get enough sleep and eat right (more fruits, vegetables, etc.), which will help avoid the development of a number of serious diseases, including bowel cancer.