New research from Mass General Brigham indicates that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy may subtly affect fetal brain development, increasing the risk of speech, motor, and autism-related disorders in early childhood. These findings are detailed in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology.
Children born to mothers who contracted COVID-19 during pregnancy face a higher likelihood of developmental disorders by age three. The study highlights concerns not only for maternal health but also for fetal brain development, as noted by senior author Andrea Edlow, MD, MSc. She emphasised the critical nature of preventing infections during pregnancy, particularly as public confidence in vaccines, including those for COVID-19, wanes.
Previous studies have linked maternal infections with heightened risks of neurodevelopmental disorders in children. Animal research supports the notion that immune activation during pregnancy can disrupt normal fetal brain development and subsequent behaviour.
The study analysed data from 18,124 live births at Mass General Brigham between March 2020 and May 2021. It examined the relationship between maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and child neurodevelopmental outcomes. Among 861 children with prenatal exposure to the virus, 16.3% were diagnosed with neurodevelopmental disorders by age three, compared to 9.7% of children born to uninfected mothers. Accounting for confounding variables, maternal COVID-19 infection correlated with a 29% increased likelihood of such conditions.
Male offspring and those exposed during the third trimester exhibited higher risks, suggesting that late-pregnancy infection may have more profound neurological impacts. However, Dr. Roy Perlis, co-senior author, notes that the overall risk remains relatively low despite the increased odds.
First author Lydia Shook, MD, emphasised the importance of parental awareness and advocacy for early evaluation and developmental support. The research team included Lydia L. Shook, Victor Castro, Laura Ibanez-Pintor, and Roy H. Perlis, alongside Dr. Edlow.
Dr. Perlis disclosed advisory roles with several companies, while Dr. Edlow is associated with scientific advisory boards and consultancies outside this work. The authors reported no additional conflicts of interest.
