Covid-19 during Pregnancy Linked to Increased Autism Risk in Children: New Study Suggests Potential Long-Term Consequences of Infection.
A recent study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology has found that children born to mothers who contracted Covid-19 during pregnancy are at a higher risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) later in life. The research, conducted by scientists at Mass General Brigham in Boston, analyzed data from over 18,000 births between March 2020 and May 2021.
According to the study, approximately 860 children were born to mothers who tested positive for Covid-19 during pregnancy. These children had significantly greater odds of being diagnosed with autism or other neurodevelopmental problems by age three compared to those born to mothers who never contracted the virus.
The researchers found that Covid-19 exposure during pregnancy was associated with a 29% higher risk of children developing a neurodevelopmental condition, and this risk was more pronounced when mothers contracted the virus during the third trimester and among male children.
While the study's findings are not definitive and only suggest a potential link between maternal Covid-19 infection and increased autism risk in children, they highlight the need for further research into long-term neurodevelopmental monitoring for SARS-CoV-2-exposed children.
Experts are urging expectant mothers to minimize their risk of exposure to Covid-19 during pregnancy, as the virus can pose risks not only to the mother but also to fetal brain development. The study's authors emphasize that following public health advice to get vaccinated against Covid-19 is particularly important in light of the current vaccine access challenges.
The study's findings come as concerns over vaccine safety and efficacy continue to grow, with some prominent figures, including former US President Donald Trump and RFK Jr., promoting debunked theories about vaccines causing autism.
A recent study published in the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology has found that children born to mothers who contracted Covid-19 during pregnancy are at a higher risk of developing autism spectrum disorder (ASD) later in life. The research, conducted by scientists at Mass General Brigham in Boston, analyzed data from over 18,000 births between March 2020 and May 2021.
According to the study, approximately 860 children were born to mothers who tested positive for Covid-19 during pregnancy. These children had significantly greater odds of being diagnosed with autism or other neurodevelopmental problems by age three compared to those born to mothers who never contracted the virus.
The researchers found that Covid-19 exposure during pregnancy was associated with a 29% higher risk of children developing a neurodevelopmental condition, and this risk was more pronounced when mothers contracted the virus during the third trimester and among male children.
While the study's findings are not definitive and only suggest a potential link between maternal Covid-19 infection and increased autism risk in children, they highlight the need for further research into long-term neurodevelopmental monitoring for SARS-CoV-2-exposed children.
Experts are urging expectant mothers to minimize their risk of exposure to Covid-19 during pregnancy, as the virus can pose risks not only to the mother but also to fetal brain development. The study's authors emphasize that following public health advice to get vaccinated against Covid-19 is particularly important in light of the current vaccine access challenges.
The study's findings come as concerns over vaccine safety and efficacy continue to grow, with some prominent figures, including former US President Donald Trump and RFK Jr., promoting debunked theories about vaccines causing autism.
I'm not buying this new study that says Covid-19 during pregnancy is linked to an increased risk of autism in kids 
. Don't get me wrong, if it's true, we need to know and take precautions 
. But let's be real, 29% higher risk is still a pretty small margin 
. What about all the other factors that can contribute to autism? The environment, lifestyle, genetics... you name it 
. We're jumping to conclusions here without fully understanding the scope of things 
.
. I mean, come on, we need to be cautious about vaccine safety, but let's not confuse correlation with causation 
. The study authors themselves say that the link between Covid-19 and autism is still just a hypothesis 
. This study is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle, and we need to be careful about how we interpret its findings 
.
! I mean, the idea that Covid-19 could be linked to increased autism risk in kids is just scary 
. As a mom-to-be, it's hard enough worrying about birth complications without adding vaccine misinformation to the mix 
. But what really gets me is that some people are still spreading those debunked theories 
. We need more research and awareness about this potential link, not misinformation 
... I mean, it's one thing to worry about Covid-19 during pregnancy but the fact that there might be a link to autism in kids is just heartbreaking 
. I'm not saying vaccines aren't safe, they are 
, but what if there's another side effect we don't know about yet? The more I think about this, the more I want us to just be extra careful during pregnancy... and after birth too 
.
. I mean, I'm all for keeping the kids safe, but a study that links Covid-19 during pregnancy to increased autism risk in children? It's like, we're playing with fire here 
. I know some people are gonna freak out about vaccines and try to connect them to autism, but let's not forget that vaccines have been thoroughly tested for years and have a proven track record of keeping us safe 
.