Neurologist explained the effects of night shifts on the brain

Nighttime work affects the brain not only through lack of sleep and stress, but also directly, causing a decrease in the volume of individual departments responsible for memory and emotions. Ekaterina Demyanovskaya, a neurologist and expert at the Hemotest laboratory, told Izvestia about this on June 5 based on the results of a new study by neuroscientists from Singapore.

"During night shifts <...> accumulation of metabolites leads to local inflammation and damage to neurons. In the long run, this can trigger processes that lead to a real loss of brain cells. As a result, a person begins to notice that it has become more difficult to learn new things, old skills are retained worse, and emotional reactions become more abrupt or, conversely, dull," Demyanovskaya explained.

The effects of night work are especially pronounced in people with morning chronotype and older age groups. Those who find it difficult to stay awake at night become the most vulnerable, and differences in brain volume between day and night workers become more noticeable after the age of 50.

The expert also noted that the changes may be partially reversible: after 2.4 years, the volunteers who stopped night shifts recovered the volume of the thalamus and amygdala.

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"There may not be a complete return to its original state after many years of work," the doctor added.

To reduce the risks, the specialist recommends switching to a daytime work schedule whenever possible or observing strict sleep hygiene: sleeping in complete darkness and silence at the same time, as well as monitoring cognitive functions and mood. At the same time, any supplements, including melatonin, can only help improve sleep, but will not stop the loss of brain volume while continuing night work.

Somnologist and neurologist Natalia Romanchuk from the clinic of Samara State Medical University (SamSMU) of the Russian Ministry of Health said on May 19 that sleeping in a hot room can lead to disruption of thermoregulation processes, which makes it difficult for the body to cool naturally and prevents normal sleep.