A recent study conducted in Toronto has proposed that engaging in night shifts might lead to memory issues among middle-aged and elderly individuals. A group of experts from York University in Canada examined data from 41,811 participants, which encompassed employment details, working hours, and outcomes of cognitive assessment tests.
Among these individuals, 20 percent had experience with some form of shift work during their careers. The findings revealed that those who presently worked night shifts were 79 percent more prone to encountering difficulties in cognitive performance compared to those exclusively working during the day. Moreover, individuals who had held night shift positions for the longest duration experienced a 53 percent elevated likelihood of facing such cognitive problems.
The potential cause behind this association, as pointed out by the study’s authors, is the disturbance to the body’s circadian rhythm, commonly referred to as the internal body clock. Published in the journal Plos One, the research demonstrated a correlation between shift work and challenges in cognitive performance, suggesting that disruptions to circadian rhythms might contribute to these issues.
Professor Russell Foster from the University of Oxford underscored the significance of the study’s revelation that night shift employment could heighten the risk of cognitive performance-related problems.
It’s important to acknowledge that a previous study has already indicated the discernible impact of shift work (i.e., working outside the conventional 9 am to 5 pm timeframe) on overall health.