Working night shifts can ruin the memory

A new study has found that those working at night in their current jobs had 79 per cent higher rates of memory impairment in middle-age compared to those who worked during daytime hours.

The authors believe that the disruption to the circadian rhythm - the body clock - is to blame for the health issues faced by night-shift workers.

A team from York University in Canada analysed information on more than 47,000 adults - including information on employment, work schedules, and the results of cognitive function tests.

Previous findings have established that shift work - which refers to any work schedule outside of the traditional 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours - has a significant impact on a person's health.

Writing in the journal Plos One, the researchers said: "The findings suggest a potential link between shift -work exposure and cognitive-function impairment. We speculate that disruptive circadian stimuli may play a role in neurodegeneration, contributing to cognitive impairment."

For feedback: contact the Editorial Department at onlinefeedback@gleanerjm.com.