Correspondence on: Neurocognitive impairment in night and shift workers: a meta-analysis of observational studies by Vlasak et al

When considering the impact of shiftwork on cognitive performance, there is an important distinction to be drawn between acute temporary effects and chronic impairments. Acute effects are typically observed in individuals who are, for example, working a block of night shifts and are experiencing fatigue due to the transient influence of inadequate sleep and circadian misalignment.1 Chronic effects (if they exist) are observable when individuals with prolonged exposure to shiftwork show deficits in cognitive capacity, irrespective of the type of shift they have worked in recent days and may even be observable in former shiftworkers. The distinction is important because it is likely that different mechanisms will underlie the two. The transient influences underlying acute effects are unlikely to account for chronic impairments. Chronic effects are more likely the result of enduring changes, such as possible alterations to cerebral structures caused by the physiological stress that is...

Source: Occupational and Environmental Medicine - October 14, 2022 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Tucker, P. Tags: PostScript Source Type: research