Working long hours? It could be altering the structure of your brain, new study says

(CNN) — Long working hours might not just be bad for you, they could also be altering the structure of your brain, a new study suggests.

The research , published Tuesday, found “significant changes” in the brains of people who were overworking, which is a combination of physical and emotional overexertion, as well as a lack of rest.

The research was conducted by two scientists at South Korea’s Chung-Ang University and Yonsei University, who followed 110 healthcare workers classified into “overworked” and “non-overworked” groups.

In South Korea, where 52 hours of work per week is the legal upper limit, overworking has become a public health concern .

The overworked group, clocking 52 hours or more each week, consisted of 32 people who were on average younger, in employment for le