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How does the hustle culture adopted by Gen Z lead to dementia, Alzheimer’s? experts find out
Hustle culture has become a global practice where more and more working professionals, especially the youth, are constantly bombarded with messages that glorify busyness and productivity, leading everyone to believe that success can only be achieved without Can be achieved only through stalled work. However, this is leading to a number of mental health problems – including brain degeneration as well as an increase in cases of diseases like dementia and Alzheimer’s. Read on to know how it happens.
Both dementia and Alzheimer’s cause declines in memory and cognition, in addition to poor mental functioning, and brain cells may eventually die.
Even a toxic work culture has massively promoted the need to be on the go all the time – many people, especially young professionals of Generation Z, are falling prey to it. Most believe that rushing into work can get them the accomplishments they want, but it often comes at the expense of overall well-being, both physically and mentally. According to experts, running around is not only making you unhealthy but also weakening your brain as you age, leading to untreated conditions like dementia. Alzheimer’s,
Both dementia and Alzheimer’s cause declines in memory and cognition, in addition to poor mental functioning, and brain cells may eventually die. Although it is common among the elderly, modern lifestyle can also put you at risk.
“Many (youth) push themselves to unhealthy extremes, creating a toxic work culture that harms both the mind and body. Constant stress, anxiety and fear of missing targets lead to long work hours. “A lifestyle with minimal physical activity and poor dietary choices,” Dr Ishu Goyal, deputy consultant, Neurology, Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital, told Times Now.
In India alone, an estimated 50 lakh people are currently suffering from dementia, of which 60-70 per cent of cases are Alzheimer’s.
How do unhealthy work practices cause cognitive decline?
According to Dr. Goyal, the buildup of abnormal proteins and waste products in the brain—which normally gets cleared during sleep, with the help of antioxidants from a healthy diet—usually doesn’t happen if your stress levels are high. Is. “Individuals genetically predisposed to dementia may already experience cognitive decline if they neglect their mental and physical health due to this fast-paced, high-stress lifestyle,” said Dr. Goyal.
“Hustling shouldn’t be entirely to blame – there are illnesses such as anxiety, depression and cardiovascular complications that can arise from this behavior that can increase the risk of developing AD later in life. Again, we need to take everything with a pinch of salt,” said Dr Virajrao Kore, consultant geriatrician at Ruby Hall Clinic.
Ways to reduce stress and anxiety at work
Experts recommend adopting a brain-healthy lifestyle that includes eating clean, limiting alcohol and quitting smoking, staying on top of vascular risk factors like high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol, and regularly evaluating and treating hearing and vision loss. Getting uninterrupted and regular sleep during this time are some of the ways you can push back cognitive decline.
“Regular work breaks, relaxation techniques, balanced diet, adequate sleep and rejuvenation therapy are essential to maintain brain health and prevent the onset of conditions like Alzheimer’s disease,” said Dr. Goyal.
Experiencing work stress is inevitable, even if you love what you do. Therefore, you should take actionable steps to keep job stress at a manageable level. To this end, you also need to work on your time management skills, take time out to recharge, be aware of how events affect you, and rely on a support network to help you cope with job-related stress. May help to manage.
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