Another study adds to growing evidence:
Children exposed in utero to maternal COVID-19 face a higher risk of neurodevelopmental issues by age 3.
It’s part of a broader pattern showing how SARS-CoV-2 can leave long biological traces - even before birth🧵
Children exposed in utero to maternal COVID-19 face a higher risk of neurodevelopmental issues by age 3.
It’s part of a broader pattern showing how SARS-CoV-2 can leave long biological traces - even before birth🧵
Study in Obstetrics & Gynecology, 2025
18,124 births (Mass General Brigham, 2020-2021).
861 mothers had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy.
By age 3, 16.3% of exposed children had a neurodevelopmental diagnosis vs 9.7% of unexposed.
18,124 births (Mass General Brigham, 2020-2021).
861 mothers had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy.
By age 3, 16.3% of exposed children had a neurodevelopmental diagnosis vs 9.7% of unexposed.
After adjustment for age, race, insurance, and preterm birth:
+29% higher risk overall.
Biggest effects
infection in the third trimester
male offspring
+29% higher risk overall.
Biggest effects
infection in the third trimester
male offspring
The virus triggers maternal immune activation, inflammation, and changes in placental blood flow - all of which can subtly reshape brain development, especially late in pregnancy when key neural circuits are wiring up.
Most exposed children develop normally.
But at the population level, that 6-7 additional cases per 100 exposed births is not trivial.
It’s a measurable, biologically plausible signal - not noise.
But at the population level, that 6-7 additional cases per 100 exposed births is not trivial.
It’s a measurable, biologically plausible signal - not noise.
Male fetuses seem more vulnerable.
Their brains have weaker anti-inflammatory buffering and less stable microglial regulation.
This sex-specific sensitivity is seen across other prenatal stress and infection models too.
Their brains have weaker anti-inflammatory buffering and less stable microglial regulation.
This sex-specific sensitivity is seen across other prenatal stress and infection models too.
Similar findings are emerging from other cohorts - in the U.S., Israel, Denmark, Italy.
Different settings, same message:
prenatal SARS-CoV-2 exposure - higher odds of speech, motor, or social developmental delays.
Different settings, same message:
prenatal SARS-CoV-2 exposure - higher odds of speech, motor, or social developmental delays.
It fits a bigger truth.
SARS-CoV-2 is not just a respiratory virus.
It disrupts immune, vascular, and developmental systems - including those that shape the brain before birth.
SARS-CoV-2 is not just a respiratory virus.
It disrupts immune, vascular, and developmental systems - including those that shape the brain before birth.
The authors call for long-term neurodevelopmental follow-up of pandemic-era children, especially boys and those exposed in late pregnancy.
It’s a reasonable - and urgent - precaution.
It’s a reasonable - and urgent - precaution.
Each new study reinforces what should already be obvious -
protecting pregnant people from infection isn’t only about them - it’s about the next generation’s brain health. @szupraha @ZdravkoOnline @adamvojtech86
protecting pregnant people from infection isn’t only about them - it’s about the next generation’s brain health. @szupraha @ZdravkoOnline @adamvojtech86
That’s the quiet tragedy behind studies like this.
For years, public health messaging has focused on mildness, while avoiding the harder truth - that infection during pregnancy can have lasting effects on the child.
For years, public health messaging has focused on mildness, while avoiding the harder truth - that infection during pregnancy can have lasting effects on the child.
It’s not about panic. It’s about honesty and prevention.
Inform pregnant people clearly.
Support measures to reduce infection risk.
Ensure long-term follow-up for exposed children.
Silence doesn’t protect anyone - it only erases accountability.
Inform pregnant people clearly.
Support measures to reduce infection risk.
Ensure long-term follow-up for exposed children.
Silence doesn’t protect anyone - it only erases accountability.
Shook et al. Neurodevelopmental Outcomes of 3-Year-Old Children Exposed to Maternal SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Utero.
Obstetrics & Gynecology. Oct 30, 2025. journals.lww.com/greenjournal/f…
Obstetrics & Gynecology. Oct 30, 2025. journals.lww.com/greenjournal/f…
Public health had sufficient signals of varying quality from earlier studies.
https://twitter.com/zdenekvrozina/status/1935033664322085298
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