American Researchers Warn That COVID-19 Womb Exposure is Giving Rise to a New Generation with Brain and Behavior Changes
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 02, 2026 1 hour, 56 minutes ago
Medical News: A generation shaped before birth
Scientists are increasingly worried that the COVID-19 pandemic may have left invisible marks on babies who were still in the womb when their mothers were infected. A new large and carefully conducted study has now revealed that exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus during pregnancy may subtly but meaningfully change how a baby’s brain develops and how the child thinks and behaves later in life. This
Medical News report highlights findings that are especially important for parents, teachers and healthcare workers to understand.
Prenatal COVID-19 exposure may quietly reshape infant brain development and toddler behavior
Who conducted the research
The study was carried out by researchers from the Developing Brain Institute at Children’s National Hospital in Washington DC. Several authors were also affiliated with the Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology at George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences. The research team included experts in pediatric neurology, psychology, brain imaging and child development.
How the study was done
The scientists followed 142 mother baby pairs. Of these 39 babies were exposed to COVID-19 during pregnancy while 103 babies were born before the pandemic and served as a comparison group. When the babies were about two weeks old, they underwent safe non-invasive MRI brain scans while asleep. At around two years of age trained specialists assessed the children using well established developmental and behavioral tests.
What changed in newborn brains
The brain scans showed clear differences in babies exposed to COVID-19 in the womb. Some brain areas such as the outer gray matter and the left hippocampus were larger than normal while other regions including deeper gray matter and white matter were smaller. These areas are crucial for memory learning emotional control and communication. The changes were not random but followed a pattern seen in other conditions involving early brain stress or inflammation.
Effects seen at two years of age
When the children reached toddler age, those exposed to COVID-19 during pregnancy scored lower on thinking and problem-solving tests. More than half of them were considered at risk for developmental delay compared to only a small fraction of children born before the pandemic. Parents also reported more signs of anxiety withdrawal and emotional sensitivity. Importantly language understanding was affected even when overall speech seemed normal.
Why these changes may happen
The researchers believe the virus itself rarely reaches the baby. Instead, the mother’s immune response may release inflammatory signals that affect the developing brain. Changes in the placenta oxygen supply and even gene regulation may also play a role. The study showed that early brain structure changes hel
ped explain later thinking and emotional difficulties.
What this means for families and society
These findings do not mean that every COVID-19 exposed child will struggle. Many children will develop normally. However, the results suggest that this group may benefit from closer developmental monitoring and early support. Identifying issues early can greatly improve long-term outcomes.
Conclusion
This important study shows that COVID-19 exposure during pregnancy is linked to measurable brain changes at birth and lower cognitive and emotional scores by age two. The findings emphasize that the pandemic’s impact extends beyond immediate infection and may shape early childhood development. Ongoing follow up early screening and timely interventions could help reduce long term risks for this COVID-19 generation.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Brain Behavior and Immunity.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0889159125004805
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