This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-29879521
The article has changed 7 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 4 | Version 5 |
---|---|
Shift work dulls your brain - report | Shift work dulls your brain - report |
(35 minutes later) | |
Working antisocial hours can prematurely age the brain and dull intellectual ability, scientists warn. | Working antisocial hours can prematurely age the brain and dull intellectual ability, scientists warn. |
Their study, in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, suggested a decade of shifts aged the brain by more than six years. | Their study, in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, suggested a decade of shifts aged the brain by more than six years. |
There was some recovery after people stopped working antisocial shifts, but it took five years to return to normal. | There was some recovery after people stopped working antisocial shifts, but it took five years to return to normal. |
Experts say the findings could be important in dementia, as many patients have disrupted sleep. | Experts say the findings could be important in dementia, as many patients have disrupted sleep. |
The body's internal clock is designed for us to be active in the day and asleep at night. | The body's internal clock is designed for us to be active in the day and asleep at night. |
The damaging effects on the body of working against the body clock, from breast cancer to obesity, are well known. | The damaging effects on the body of working against the body clock, from breast cancer to obesity, are well known. |
Now a team at the University of Swansea and the University of Toulouse has shown an impact on the mind as well. | Now a team at the University of Swansea and the University of Toulouse has shown an impact on the mind as well. |
Three thousand people in France performed tests of memory, speed of thought and wider cognitive ability. | Three thousand people in France performed tests of memory, speed of thought and wider cognitive ability. |
The brain naturally declines as we age, but the researchers said working antisocial shifts accelerated the process. | The brain naturally declines as we age, but the researchers said working antisocial shifts accelerated the process. |
Those with more than 10 years of shift work under their belts had the same results as someone six and a half years older. | Those with more than 10 years of shift work under their belts had the same results as someone six and a half years older. |
The good news is that when people in the study quit shift work, their brains did recover. Even if it took five years. | The good news is that when people in the study quit shift work, their brains did recover. Even if it took five years. |
'Substantial decline' | 'Substantial decline' |
Dr Philip Tucker, part of the research team in Swansea, told the BBC: "It was quite a substantial decline in brain function, it is likely that when people trying to undertake complex cognitive tasks then they might make more mistakes and slip-ups, maybe one in 100 makes a mistake with a very large consequence, but it's hard to say how big a difference it would make in day-to-day life." | Dr Philip Tucker, part of the research team in Swansea, told the BBC: "It was quite a substantial decline in brain function, it is likely that when people trying to undertake complex cognitive tasks then they might make more mistakes and slip-ups, maybe one in 100 makes a mistake with a very large consequence, but it's hard to say how big a difference it would make in day-to-day life." |
He said he would not do night shifts "if I could possibly help it" but they were a "necessary evil" that society could not do without. | He said he would not do night shifts "if I could possibly help it" but they were a "necessary evil" that society could not do without. |
"There are ways to mitigate the effects in the way you design work schedules and regular medical check-ups... should include cognitive performance tests to look for danger signs," he added. | "There are ways to mitigate the effects in the way you design work schedules and regular medical check-ups... should include cognitive performance tests to look for danger signs," he added. |
Dr Michael Hastings, from the UK Medical Research Council's Laboratory of Molecular Biology, told the BBC: "The reversibility is a really exciting finding because no-one else has shown it and no matter how compromised a person may be there's always hope of recovery." | Dr Michael Hastings, from the UK Medical Research Council's Laboratory of Molecular Biology, told the BBC: "The reversibility is a really exciting finding because no-one else has shown it and no matter how compromised a person may be there's always hope of recovery." |
He said the findings may have important consequences in dementia, which is known to damage sleeping patterns in a similar way to shift work. | He said the findings may have important consequences in dementia, which is known to damage sleeping patterns in a similar way to shift work. |
"If you can keep the sleep-wake cycle as solid as possible you're unlikely to reverse neurodegeneration, but you can ameliorate one of the consequences. | "If you can keep the sleep-wake cycle as solid as possible you're unlikely to reverse neurodegeneration, but you can ameliorate one of the consequences. |
"In nursing homes one thing you can do to help is to set a very clear daily routine to encourage a sensible 24-hour pattern of activity; it needs bright lights in the day, resting at night and appropriate medication such as melatonin before bed." | "In nursing homes one thing you can do to help is to set a very clear daily routine to encourage a sensible 24-hour pattern of activity; it needs bright lights in the day, resting at night and appropriate medication such as melatonin before bed." |
Prof Derk-Jan Dijk, from the Surrey Sleep Centre, cautioned that retired shift workers still had lower sleep quality than people who had never done nights. | Prof Derk-Jan Dijk, from the Surrey Sleep Centre, cautioned that retired shift workers still had lower sleep quality than people who had never done nights. |
"So some of these effects may not be so readily or rapidly reversed." | "So some of these effects may not be so readily or rapidly reversed." |
He added: "We now accept that shift work may not be good for your physical health, but this shows your brain function is affected, and I think that finding will surprise many people." | He added: "We now accept that shift work may not be good for your physical health, but this shows your brain function is affected, and I think that finding will surprise many people." |
Do you work shifts? What do you think of the findings in this study? You can share your experience by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk If you are willing to be contacted by a BBC journalist, please leave a contact number. | |
Have your say | Have your say |