In today’s fast-paced world, multitasking is often celebrated as a mark of efficiency—but a leading doctor warns that this habit may be harming our brains. General practitioner Dr. Amir Khan recently highlighted in a viral TikTok video that constant multitasking can increase stress, impair memory, and even accelerate brain ageing.
When we switch rapidly between tasks, our brain struggles to keep up. Dr. Khan explains that this forces the left and right prefrontal cortex (PFC)—the area responsible for focus, decision-making, and emotional control—to work independently rather than in harmony. Over time, this raises cortisol levels (the stress hormone) and may even shrink grey matter, which is crucial for cognitive function.
While many people pride themselves on juggling multiple tasks, research suggests only 2.5% of individuals can truly multitask without a drop in performance. A UK survey found 60% of men and women believe they are good at it—but neuroscientists argue that what we call “multitasking” is really just rapid task-switching, which reduces efficiency and increases mental fatigue.
Neuropsychology expert Dr. Jennifer E. Davies from Brown University confirms that our brains aren’t wired for true multitasking. Instead, they toggle between tasks, leading to more errors and slower processing. To protect brain health, experts advise:
✔ Focusing on one task at a time
✔ Taking regular breaks
✔ Prioritizing deep work over scattered effort
The next time you feel pressured to do it all at once, remember: slowing down might actually make you sharper in the long run.