Impact of COVID-19 During Pregnancy on Child Neurodevelopment

Recent research suggests that women who contract COVID-19 during pregnancy may have a higher likelihood of giving birth to children who are later diagnosed with autism or other neurological disorders. These findings add to a body of previous studies indicating that infections during pregnancy are generally linked to an increased risk of autism in the child. However, the studies do not suggest that all women who contract COVID-19 during pregnancy will have children with autism.

Findings of the Recent Study

The recent study conducted an analysis of electronic health records from over 18,000 births that occurred between March 1, 2020, and May 31, 2021. The study focused on comparing the likelihood of children being diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders based on whether their mothers contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy. It found that 16.3% of children born to mothers who had the virus received a neurological disorder diagnosis by age three, compared to 9.7% of children whose mothers did not contract the virus.

The diagnoses included not only autism but also language and speech disorders, motor function disorders, and other conditions. After controlling for influencing factors, it was found that contracting COVID-19 during pregnancy increased the likelihood of these conditions by about 30%.

Impact of Infections During Pregnancy

This study adds to existing evidence suggesting that various infections during pregnancy, such as influenza or rubella, are associated with an increased risk of autism or similar conditions in the child. Since the SARS-CoV-2 virus rarely crosses the placenta, scientists suspect that the activation of the mother’s immune system may be responsible for the increased risk.

Previous studies in animals and humans indicate that maternal infections or inflammations can send signals to the fetus that affect brain development.

Other Influencing Factors

The study’s results suggest that contracting COVID-19 in the third trimester of pregnancy had the strongest associations with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental conditions, especially in males. The third trimester is considered a critical time for fetal brain development, and males are typically diagnosed with autism at higher rates than females.

However, the study notes some limitations, as it did not control for factors related to maternal health, such as physical or mental illnesses that could increase the risk of neurological disorders in children.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the importance of monitoring maternal health during pregnancy, especially amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Although contracting the virus increases the risk of autism and other neurological conditions, the absolute risk remains relatively low. It is important to emphasize that autism is a complex spectrum of conditions, and both genetic and environmental factors play a role in its development. The research encourages further studies to better understand the relationship between infections during pregnancy and children’s neurodevelopment.