A research group from the Massachusetts General Hospital recently analyzed data from 18,000 births between March of 2020 and May of 2021. The purpose of this study was to look into how COVID-19 in pregnant mothers may have played a role in the development of babies in the womb.
During the study, researchers found that boys who were born to mothers with a COVID-19 diagnosis while pregnant are at greater risk of experiencing subtle developmental delays, including those associated with autism. Researchers highlight that the coronavirus infection itself rarely infects a fetus. Instead, the risk comes from the mother’s immune response to the infection. The mother’s body produces cytokines, which help fuel an immune response and regulate the mother’s system. While great for fighting off infections, cytokines can pass over the placenta and lead to minor inflammation in a fetal brain.
These delays include intellectual disabilities, delays in speech and language, slower psychological development, and reduced motor function.
In the study, boys were found to be at a much greater risk than girls for developing delays. According to Dr. Andrea Edlow, a lead author of the study, this fact is likely due to male fetuses being more vulnerable to maternal infectious exposures during pregnancy.
About 900 children whose mothers had COVID during the pregnancy were included in the study. All 18,000 children were born at eight different hospitals around the Eastern Massachusetts area.
Overall, the authors of this study concluded that the effects of a COVID-19 diagnosis on a fetus during pregnancy are modest but do exist. The infection does lead to some increase in risk, but most children of mothers who suffered from the infection during pregnancy won’t grow up to experience neurodevelopmental consequences.
Currently, all the children in this study are still very young. The research team plans on continuing to follow and monitor them for several more years to determine whether the delays persist or result in autism diagnoses.
Supporting Autistic Youth
Do you have a child who was recently diagnosed with autism? Here at the Nevada Autism Center, our team strives to empower bright futures by giving every child the individualized care and support they need to thrive. We offer ABA therapy that’s carried out in a one-on-one setting with your child.
Our center also offers family guidance, model classrooms, and summer camps. We want to help your child develop the social skills they need to be as autonomous and independent as possible. We also want to set your child up for success in school settings. We’ll work with your child to help them shed maladaptive coping mechanisms and replace those with more positive, socially acceptable ones.
If you’re interested in learning more about what we can offer you, your child, and your family, then reach out to us now at (702) 600-2005. If you’re ready to get started, then you can begin by filling out our online enrollment form. We look forward to hearing from you!
