COVID’s Long-Term Consequences: Higher Risks of Neurodevelopmental Issues and Autism
As COVID swept across California in early 2020, pediatric infectious diseases physician Karin Nielsen grew alarmed by the crisis erupting in maternity wards. Pregnant women were placed on life support, undergoing emergency C-sections as the virus triggered severe complications. Some died.
Study Reveals Unsettling Findings
Nielsen had just finished a research project on how the emerging infectious disease Zika was causing severe birth defects. Concerned the new coronavirus might have a similar impact, she began recruiting expectant mothers who tested positive for a new study. Soon after the study’s participants began giving birth, Nielsen’s colleagues at UCLA’s Mattel Children’s Hospital noticed an unusual number of their newborns requiring intensive care. Nielsen recalls another doctor stopping her to ask, "What’s wrong with the babies in your study?"
Signs of Developmental Problems
When researchers analyzed videos of the children lying on their backs in what’s called the General Movement Assessment, 14% of the infants showed signs of developmental problems. The test evaluates early motor functions and is often used to assess the risk of neurodevelopmental disorders including cerebral palsy.
Additional Findings
Later, during in-clinic assessments, the findings proved equally troubling. At 6-8 months old, 13 of 109 infants born to infected mothers — almost 12% — had failed to reach developmental milestones. In stark contrast, all infants in a control group born before the pandemic showed normal development.
Concerning Patterns
As additional participants from LA and Rio were enrolled, more unsettling results emerged. Around 11.6% of toddlers born to mothers with lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy showed cognitive, motor, or language problems indicative of neurodevelopmental delays. By comparison, only two of 128 unexposed controls — 1.6% — showed such issues.
Higher Risks of Autism
When the eldest of the Covid-exposed babies reached 28 months, the study found another concerning pattern: 23 of 211 children — almost 11% — screened positive for autism spectrum disorder. The finding, presented in May at a medical conference in Copenhagen, compared with an expected prevalence of 1-2% at that age, when some children begin showing signs of the condition.
The Connection Between Covid and Autism Remains Inconclusive
A limitation of Nielsen’s study is its relatively small sample size, with fewer than 250 mother-baby pairs. A robust understanding of the virus’ impact would likely require research involving more than 10,000 children, says Andrea Edlow, a maternal-fetal medicine specialist at Boston’s Massachusetts General Hospital.
Why Covid May Leave Its Mark
Covid may affect fetuses in a unique way. One of the earliest signs emerged in early 2021 in County Cork, Ireland, during a surge of the alpha variant. A cluster of stillbirths in the first three months of that year prompted doctors to investigate. They discovered that the placentas linked to the fetal deaths were infected with the coronavirus, describing them as riddled with lesions likely caused by viral transmission through the maternal bloodstream.
Understanding the Impact of Covid on Neurodevelopmental Issues
Identifying developmental issues early can open the door to speech and behavioral therapies, which are proven to support a child’s development. This makes it a critical moment to study the pandemic’s impact.
Conclusion
The connection between Covid and autism remains inconclusive, but emerging research suggests that babies exposed to Covid in utero face elevated risks for preterm birth, congenital heart abnormalities, and rare conditions. Greater odds of autism from in utero exposure to Covid would add another piece to the puzzle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What are the potential long-term consequences of COVID-19 for babies born during the pandemic?
A: Research suggests that babies exposed to COVID-19 in utero may face elevated risks for preterm birth, congenital heart abnormalities, and rare conditions, as well as potential neurodevelopmental issues and autism.
Q: How common are neurodevelopmental issues and autism among babies born during the pandemic?
A: According to a study by Karin Nielsen, around 11.6% of toddlers born to mothers with lab-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during pregnancy showed cognitive, motor, or language problems indicative of neurodevelopmental delays. Additionally, 23 of 211 children — almost 11% — screened positive for autism spectrum disorder.
Q: Is there a link between COVID-19 and autism?
A: The connection between COVID-19 and autism remains inconclusive, but research suggests that in utero exposure to COVID-19 may increase the risk of autism spectrum disorder.
