Breakthrough: The Brain Behind Burnout and Chronic Fatigue Unraveled

Belgian Breakthrough: Unravelling the Brain Behind Burnout and Chronic Fatigue

‍

For the first time, we've discovered an objective “brain signature” that explains why chronic stress can inevitably lead to mental exhaustion and burnout.‍

Chronic stress is not a vague concept, nor is it a purely psychological phenomenon.
She leaves measurable traces in the brain.
In our scientific publication, we show how long-term stress is related to specific changes in brain activity, and how those changes contribute to mental exhaustion and persistent fatigue.‍

‍

Why we're getting exhausted: The braking function is missing

Our study, recently published in the prestigious journal Neuroscience, shows that chronic stress causes measurable changes in the brain. The central point in this story is the pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (PGAcc).
Normally, this brain region works as a 'filter' or 'brake': it suppresses unnecessary stimuli and protects our mental energy. However, in the event of persistent stress, the PGAcc loses this vital inhibitory function.

‍

A brain that is constantly “on”

When this brake drops, something drastic happens:
The brain is constantly 'on' and processes too many stimuli, causing hypersensitivity. As a result, our brain consumes excessive energy, which ultimately exhausts the system.
This “crash” is what we clinically see as chronic fatigue or burnout.

‍

Why is this a breakthrough?

So far, diagnoses of burnout and chronic fatigue have mainly been made on the basis of interviews and questionnaires.
Thanks to our large-scale study of nearly 600 participants, we now have an objective biomarker that better identifies these complaints.

Using advanced EEG analyses, we can make mental exhaustion objectively visible in brain activity, more specifically through changes in so-called “alpha oscillations”. This makes it possible to detect burnout at an earlier stage, even before complete physical and mental exhaustion occurs.

These insights also open the door to more targeted treatments.
The pregenual anterior cingulate cortex (PGAcc) will be a concrete target for new therapeutic strategies, such as neuromodulation, in which we aim to normalize disrupted brain connections.

‍

A social imperative

At a time when stress affects more than a third of employees and burnouts are peaking, this discovery is more urgent than ever.
Making mental exhaustion measurable is an essential step towards better prevention and a more effective approach to this modern epidemic.

‍