Working Too Much Over 40 Hours Per Week Lowers Cognition

Working Too Much Over 40 Hours Per Week Lowers Cognition A new study from the University of Melbourne finds that working the standard 40 hours per week could lead to a decline in cognition for people over the age of 40. The study notes that while work can stimulate older workers’ brains, long hours can “cause fatigue and physical and/or psychological stress, which potentially damage cognitive functioning.” For those over 40, working over 25 hours per week could impair intelligence, while working up to that produced the opposite effect. Video Player is loading.Play VideoPlayMuteCurrent Time  0:00/Duration  0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type  LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time  -0:00  SharePlayback Rate1xChaptersChaptersDescriptionsdescriptions off, selectedCaptionscaptions settings, opens captions settings dialogcaptions off, selectedAudio TrackFullscreenThis is a modal window. This video is either unavailable or not supported in this browser Error Code: MEDIA_ERR_SRC_NOT_SUPPORTED Technical details : No compatible source was found for this media. Session ID: 2019-12-31:3442ceea594e90fe7fd352b0 Player Element ID: jumpstart_video_1 OK Close Modal DialogBeginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window.TextColorWhiteBlackRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentBackgroundColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyOpaqueSemi-TransparentTransparentWindowColorBlackWhiteRedGreenBlueYellowMagentaCyanTransparencyTransparentSemi-TransparentOpaqueFont Size50%75%100%125%150%175%200%300%400%Text Edge StyleNoneRaisedDepressedUniformDropshadowFont FamilyProportional Sans-SerifMonospace Sans-SerifProportional SerifMonospace SerifCasualScriptSmall CapsReset restore all settings to the default valuesDoneClose Modal DialogEnd of dialog window.PlayMuteCurrent Time  0:00/Duration  0:00Loaded: 0%Stream Type  LIVESeek to live, currently playing liveLIVERemaining Time  -0:00  Playback Rate1xFullscreenClose Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button.Close Modal DialogThis is a modal window. This modal can be closed by pressing the Escape key or activating the close button. Using data from the Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia survey, which asks residents about various work-related topics, the study conducted memory, pattern, and reading tests in more than 6,000 workers over the age of 40. Colin McKenzie, a professor of economics at Tokyo’s Keio University and an author of the paper, told the BBC, that 40 is a tipping point because it’s when “most people perform less well at memory tests, pattern recognition and mental agility exercises.” “Work can be a double-edged sword, in that it can stimulate brain activity, but at the same time, long working hours and certain types of tasks can cause fatigue and stress which potentially damage cognition,” he told the BBC. The decline can be attributed to stress and lack of sleep, per McKenzie. But there are other factors. McKenzie hypothesizes that being a caregiver to someone can add additional stress, and creates a job on top of a job.