Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jan 06, 2026 1 day, 8 hours, 19 minutes ago
Medical News: A hidden concern behind common flu infections
A new scientific study has raised important concerns about how influenza infection during pregnancy could quietly affect a baby’s brain development. Researchers discovered that when pregnant mice were infected with certain strains of the influenza A virus, their offspring showed clear signs of reduced brain cell growth and increased brain inflammation shortly after birth and into early life. Although the flu is often considered a temporary illness, this research suggests its effects during pregnancy may extend far beyond recovery.
The study was carried out by researchers from the Institute of Biomedical Systems and Biotechnology at Peter the Great St. Petersburg Polytechnic University in Russia, the Smorodintsev Research Institute of Influenza in Russia, the Global Virus Network Center of Excellence-Russia, the Pavlov Institute of Physiology, the Russian Academy of Sciences and the University of Maryland College Park in United States.
How the study was done
Scientists infected pregnant mice with two well-known influenza A H1N1 strains during late pregnancy. One strain was highly aggressive while the other was less severe but still clinically important. After birth the researchers closely examined the brains of newborn and two-week old mice, focusing on the hippocampus - a brain region essential for learning memory and emotional control.
They measured survival rates, body weight, inflammatory markers and the presence of key brain cells involved in neurogenesis which is the process by which new brain cells are formed.
Key findings explained simply
The results showed that babies born to infected mothers had fewer early brain cells responsible for building new neurons. This effect was especially strong with the more aggressive flu strain which also caused high death rates among newborns. Even with the milder strain, the researchers observed reduced development of immature neurons in specific brain areas.
Importantly the virus itself was not found in the brains of the offspring. Instead, the damage appeared to come from the mother’s immune response. Elevated levels of inflammatory substances such as IL-1, beta IL-6 and nitric oxide related markers were detected in the baby brains. These chemicals can cross from mother to fetus and interfere with delicate brain development processes.
Another notable finding was increased activation of astrocytes which are support cells in the brain. While they normally help protect neurons, their prolonged activation is a sign of ongoing brain inflammation.
Why this matters for long-term health
Although mature neurons appeared normal at this early-stage, researchers warn that reduced brain cell production during critical growth periods could lead to learning memory or behavioral problems later in life. This
Medical News report highlights how early invisible changes may shape future brain health without obvious symptoms at birth.
Conclusions
The study strongly suggests that
influenza infection during pregnancy can disrupt early brain development in offspring through immune driven inflammation rather than direct viral infection. These changes may quietly increase the risk of long-term cognitive or behavioral issues. The findings reinforce the importance of flu prevention and monitoring during pregnancy and open the door for future research into protective strategies that could reduce inflammation related brain damage in unborn babies.
The study findings were published in the peer reviewed journal: Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/cellular-and-infection-microbiology/articles/10.3389/fcimb.2025.1704546/full
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