Researchers say Covid infection during pregnancy is tied to autism — but they aren’t yet sure why

Researchers have found a link between COVID-19 infection during pregnancy and an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders in children, including autism. A study examining over 18,000 mothers and their children found that COVID-19 infection during pregnancy was associated with a 29 percent higher chance of children developing a neurodevelopmental condition by age three. Specifically, 16 percent of children born to mothers who had COVID-19 during pregnancy received a neurodevelopmental diagnosis, compared to 9.7 percent of children whose mothers were not infected. The risk was found to be higher in male babies and when the infection occurred during the third trimester... download the app to read more