Latest / Morning Medical with Dr. Chow / Overworking Effects, Sedentary Risks, and Hearing Loss in Seniors

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Overworking Effects, Sedentary Risks, and Hearing Loss in Seniors · Morning Medical with Dr. Chow

• 0:00
  Welcome to another episode of Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow, where we bring you the latest updates in medical and health news from around the world.
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  I'm your host, Dr.
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  Chi-Ming Chow, and today we're diving into a topic that affects many of us in modern
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  society: overworking and its impact on brain health.
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  A recent study has brought to light some concerning findings about how working long
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  hours could be altering the very structure of our brains.
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  Conducted by researchers in South Korea at Chung-Ang University and Yonsei University, the
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  study examined 110 healthcare workers, splitting them into two groups: those
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  overworking and those not.
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  In South Korea, the legal limit for working hours is 52 hours per week, and those exceeding
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  this were considered overworked.
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  Using magnetic resonance imaging scans, the researchers employed a neuroimaging technique
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  to analyze brain volume, particularly focusing on gray matter in various brain regions.
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  They discovered significant changes in areas linked to executive function and emotional
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  regulation in individuals working 52 hours or more each week.
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  These areas include the middle frontal gyrus, crucial for cognitive functions like attention
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  and memory, and the insula, which plays a role in emotional processing and self-awareness.
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  The study suggests that these structural changes in the brain could provide a biological
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  basis for the cognitive and emotional challenges often reported by overworked
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  individuals.
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  Interestingly, one of the study's coauthors, Joon Yul Choi, mentioned that these changes
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  might be reversible if the environmental stressors are alleviated, though returning to a
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  baseline state could take some time.
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  This research adds to a growing body of evidence that long working hours can have
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  detrimental health effects.
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  For example, a study by the World Health Organization and the International Labour
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  Organization in 2021 found that overworking could lead to more than 745,000 deaths
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  annually.
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  Moreover, long hours have been linked to an increased risk of diabetes in women and a
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  decline in cognitive ability.
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  While the study presents important new evidence, it's worth noting its limitations.
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  The sample size was relatively small, focusing only on healthcare workers in South Korea,
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  which may not make the findings universally applicable.
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  More research is needed across different populations to further understand these
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  impacts.
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  Experts like Frank Pega from the World Health Organization emphasize the need for caution in
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  interpreting these results but acknowledge the study's significance in highlighting the
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  relationship between overwork and brain health.
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  The findings underscore the importance of addressing overwork as a critical occupational
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  health concern, prompting governments, employers, and workers to consider actions to
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  protect workers' health.
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  As we navigate the demands of modern work life, it's crucial to be mindful of these findings
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  and consider how we can balance work and health.
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  Whether it's through policy changes or personal adjustments, ensuring healthy work hours could
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  be vital for our well-being.
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  Today, we're exploring a study that highlights the impact of sedentary behavior on brain
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  health, particularly in older adults.
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  Over a seven-year period, researchers found significant links between prolonged periods of
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  sitting or lying down and both neurodegeneration and cognitive decline,
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  regardless of how much physical activity participants engaged in.
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  This study involved 404 participants from the Vanderbilt Memory and Aging Project, with an
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  average age of 71 years.
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  The researchers used a combination of actigraphy, neuroimaging, and
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  neuropsychological assessments to gather comprehensive data.
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  Participants wore accelerometers to track their daily sedentary behavior, alongside their light
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  and moderate-to-vigorous physical activities.
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  Interestingly, the study revealed that even among those who met the Centers for Disease
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  Control and Prevention's guidelines for physical activity, more sedentary time was
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  linked with smaller hippocampal volumes and worse cognitive performance.
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  This was particularly evident in individuals carrying the APOE4 allele, which is associated
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  with an increased genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease.
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  The findings suggest that while physical activity is beneficial, it may not fully
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  counteract the negative effects of prolonged sedentary behavior on brain health.
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  This underscores the importance of reducing sedentary time as a distinct factor in
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  maintaining cognitive function, especially for those genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's
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  disease.
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  The study's authors noted that their sample was predominantly white and well-educated, which
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  may limit the generalizability of the results.
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  However, the evidence strongly indicates that even physically active individuals are not
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  immune to the detrimental effects of excessive sedentary behavior on brain health,
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  particularly among those at genetic risk for Alzheimer's disease.
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  Now, let's shift our focus to a study that addresses a common aging symptom which could
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  exacerbate loneliness among seniors.
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  This study, conducted by researchers at New York University Langone Health, sheds light on
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  how untreated hearing loss in older adults can significantly impact their social lives and
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  mental well-being.
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  Hearing loss is often an overlooked aspect of aging, but its effects can be profound.
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  The study tracked older adults with untreated hearing loss across four states: Maryland,
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  North Carolina, Minnesota, and Mississippi.
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  Participants were divided into two groups: one received hearing aids, counseling, and
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  personalized audiology support, while the other received education on healthy aging without
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  hearing interventions.
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  Over a three-year period, those who received hearing care reported improved loneliness
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  scores, while those without treatment experienced worsening feelings of isolation.
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  On average, individuals who were treated for hearing loss retained one additional social
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  connection compared to those who only received education about healthy aging.
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  This study highlights the crucial role that hearing plays in maintaining social
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  connections.
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  Treated participants not only increased the quantity of their social interactions but also
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  the quality and diversity of their relationships, engaging more with family,
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  friends, and acquaintances.
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  Lead author Professor Nicholas Reed from the New York University Grossman School of Medicine
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  emphasized that addressing hearing loss can enrich seniors' social lives and enhance their
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  mental and physical well-being.
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  The study suggests that including hearing aid coverage in Medicare could be a vital step in
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  combating social isolation among the elderly.
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  Loneliness and untreated hearing loss have been linked to serious health issues, including
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  depression, heart disease, and even premature death.
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  Moreover, hearing interventions might slow cognitive decline, particularly in those at
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  high risk for dementia.
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  Co-principal investigator Professor Josef Coresh pointed out that ensuring seniors can
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  continue engaging with their family and friends is essential for maintaining their quality of
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  life.
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  The researchers plan to follow the participants for another three years and aim to diversify
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  the study group to enhance the findings' applicability.
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  As we wrap up today's episode, it's evident that addressing hearing loss in seniors is not
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  just about improving hearing but also about enhancing their overall quality of life.
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  By fostering stronger social connections, we can help reduce loneliness and its associated
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  health risks.
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  Thank you for tuning in to Morning Medical with Dr.
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  Chow.
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  Join us next time for more insights into the world of health and medicine.
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  Until then, take care and stay informed.