As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep across the globe, concerns regarding the effects of the virus on maternal health and infant development remain at the forefront of public discourse. Of particular interest is the impact of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection on infant neurodevelopment, a topic which has garnered intense attention from healthcare professionals, researchers, and parents alike. However, a recent study published in JAMA Pediatrics has found no association between maternal SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in infants. In this article, we explore the findings of this study and the implications they hold for the ongoing discussion surrounding the relationship between COVID-19 and infant health.
A recent study published in the JAMA Network Open journal evaluated whether exposure to mild or asymptomatic maternal SARS-CoV-2 infections during pregnancy impacted the neurodevelopment of the infant. While the impact of in-utero exposure to other viruses, including influenza, herpes simplex, and zika viruses, on the neurodevelopment of infants has been widely studied, the long- and short-term impacts of prenatal exposure to maternal SARS-CoV-2 infections on the infant have been the focus of various studies since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The study examined mother-infant dyads and pregnant individuals enrolled in two parallel studies by the COMBO initiative and the prospective cohort’s multisite ESPI Network study by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Infants were considered exposed if the mother had tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 on either of the two tests during pregnancy or at the time of delivery. The infant’s neurodevelopment was assessed using the second edition of the standardized Developmental Assessment of Young Children (DAYC-2), which conducted through telehealth visits due to the stipulated social distancing conditions during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The results confirmed previous findings that prenatal exposure of the infant to SARS-CoV-2 through maternal infection did not affect the infant’s neurodevelopment. The neurodevelopmental assessment evaluated scores in cognitive development, gross and fine motor skills, and receptive and expressive language. Additionally, the scores in all these domains were similar for infants that were prenatally exposed to SARS-CoV-2 and infants that were unexposed. Furthermore, the trimester during which the mother contracted the SARS-CoV-2 infection was also not associated with changes in the DAYC-2 scores in any subdomains. The symptomatic or asymptomatic nature of maternal SARS-CoV-2 infections was also not associated with any neurodevelopmental subdomains assessed in the DAYC-2.
The study’s findings may help guide the care of pregnant individuals with mild or asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections as the COVID-19 pandemic continues with the emergence of newer variants. Overall, the study concluded that exposure of the infant to SARS-CoV-2 infections during any trimesters, regardless of the symptomatic nature, was not associated with lower scores in any neurodevelopmental domains.
Although the global pandemic has raised concerns about its potential impact on infant neurodevelopment, the study findings have provided some reassuring news for mothers infected with SARS-CoV-2 during pregnancy. While further research is necessary to fully understand the long-term effects of maternal COVID-19 infection on infant brain development, this study provides evidence that such an infection may not necessarily pose a significant risk. With ongoing efforts to increase awareness and minimize the spread of COVID-19, we can hope to improve the overall health and wellbeing of mothers and their infants.
