{"id":62940,"date":"2024-02-22T00:55:06","date_gmt":"2024-02-22T00:55:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/news.pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/study-prenatal-covid-exposure-associated-with-changes-in-newborn-brain\/"},"modified":"2024-02-22T00:55:06","modified_gmt":"2024-02-22T00:55:06","slug":"study-prenatal-covid-exposure-associated-with-changes-in-newborn-brain","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pakistaninewspaperlist.com\/news\/study-prenatal-covid-exposure-associated-with-changes-in-newborn-brain\/","title":{"rendered":"Study: Prenatal COVID exposure associated with changes in newborn brain"},"content":{"rendered":"
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WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Babies born during the COVID-19 pandemic have differences in the size of certain structures in the brain, compared to infants born before the pandemic, according to a new study led by researchers at Children\u2019s National Hospital.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The team found differences in the brains of both infants whose mothers were infected with COVID while pregnant, as well as those born to mothers who did not test positive for the virus, according to the study published in Cerebr<\/u>a<\/u>l Cortex<\/u><\/a>.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The findings suggest that exposure to the coronavirus and being pregnant during the pandemic could play a role in shaping infant brain development, said Nickie <\/u>A<\/u>n<\/u>d<\/u>e<\/u>s<\/u>c<\/u>a<\/u>v<\/u>a<\/u>g<\/u>e<\/u>, M.D.<\/u><\/a>, the first author of the paper and associate chief for the Developing Brain Institute at Children\u2019s National.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

The study’s authors looked at three groups of infants: 108 born before the pandemic; 47 exposed to COVID before birth; and 55 unexposed infants. In all cases, researchers performed magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of the newborns\u2019 brains during the first few weeks of life. The MRI scans, which are non-invasive and do not expose patients to radiation, provided 3D images of the brain, allowing doctors to calculate the volume of different areas.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Researchers found several differences in the brains of babies exposed to COVID. They had larger volumes of the gray matter that makes up the brain\u2019s outermost layer, compared to the two other groups. In contrast, an inner area of the brain, known as deep gray matter, was smaller than in unexposed babies. These are areas that contain large numbers of neurons that generate and process signals throughout the brain. \u201cTheir brains formed differently if they were exposed to COVID,\u201d said Dr. Andescavage, adding that \u201cthose exposed to COVID had unique signatures\u201d in the brain.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Doctors also measured the depths of the folds in the babies\u2019 brains \u2013 a way to determine how the brain is maturing during early development. Babies born to mothers who had COVID in pregnancy had deeper grooves in the frontal lobe, while babies born during the pandemic \u2013 even without being exposed to COVID \u2013 had increased folds and grooves throughout the brain, compared to babies born before the pandemic. \u201cThere was something about being born during the pandemic that changed how the brain developed,\u201d Dr. Andescavage said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The study authors can\u2019t fully explain what caused the differences in brain development in these babies, Dr. Andescavage said. But other studies have linked m<\/u>a<\/u>tern<\/u>a<\/u>l stress <\/u>a<\/u>n<\/u>d<\/u> depression to ch<\/u>a<\/u>n<\/u>ges in the newborn br<\/u>a<\/u>in<\/u><\/a>. In a future study, Dr. Andescavage and her colleagues will examine the relationship between infant brain development and how stress and anxiety during the pandemic may have played a role in early development.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Because the babies in the study were just a few weeks old, researchers don\u2019t know if their altered brain development will affect how they learn or behave. Researchers plan to follow the children until age 6, allowing them to observe whether pandemic-era babies hit key developmental milestones on time, such as walking, talking, holding a crayon and learning the alphabet.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Researchers have been worried about the effect of COVID on the fetus since the beginning of the pandemic. Studies show that b<\/u>a<\/u>bies exposed to COVID in the womb m<\/u>a<\/u>y experience development<\/u>a<\/u>l imp<\/u>a<\/u>cts<\/u><\/a>, and research is underway to better underst<\/u>a<\/u>n<\/u>d<\/u> long-term outcomes<\/u><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Although the coronavirus rarely crosses the placenta to infect the fetus directly, there are other ways maternal infection can influence the developing baby. Dr. Andescavage said inflammation is one potential harm to a developing baby. In addition, if a pregnant woman becomes so sick that the levels of oxygen in her blood fall significantly, that can deprive the fetus of oxygen, she added.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

In recent decades, studies of large populations have found that maternal infections with influenza and other viruses increase the risk of serious problems in children even years later, including autism, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia, although the reasons behind the association are not well understood. Technology may allow doctors to answer a number of questions about COVID and the infant brain.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWith advanced imaging and MRI, we\u2019re in a position now to be able to understand how the babies are developing in ways we never previously could,\u201d Dr. Andescavage said. \u201cThat will better allow us to identify the exposures that may be harmful, and at what times babies may be especially vulnerable, to better position us to promote maternal wellness. This, in turn, helps infant wellness.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Medi<\/b>a<\/b> cont<\/b>a<\/b>ct:<\/b> Katie Shrader | kshr<\/u>a<\/u>der@childrensn<\/u>a<\/u>tion<\/u>a<\/u>l.org<\/u><\/a>\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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A<\/b>bout Children\u2019s N<\/b>a<\/b>tion<\/b>a<\/b>l Hospit<\/b>a<\/b>l<\/b>\u00a0
\u202f<\/b>\u00a0
Children\u2019s National Hospital, based in Washington, D.C., was established in 1870 to help every child grow up stronger. Today, it is the No. 5 children\u2019s hospital in the nation and ranked in all specialties evaluated by U.S. News & World Report. Children\u2019s National is transforming pediatric medicine for all children. The Children\u2019s National Research & Innovation Campus opened in 2021, a first-of-its-kind pediatric hub dedicated to developing new and better ways to care for kids. Children\u2019s National has been designated three times in a row as a Magnet\u00ae\u202fhospital, demonstrating the highest standards of nursing and patient care delivery. This pediatric academic health system offers expert care through a convenient, community-based primary care network and specialty care locations in the D.C. metropolitan area, including Maryland and Virginia. Children\u2019s National is home to the\u202fChildren\u2019s N<\/u>a<\/u>tion<\/u>a<\/u>l Rese<\/u>a<\/u>rch Institute<\/u>\u202f<\/u><\/a>and\u202fSheikh Z<\/u>a<\/u>yed Institute for Pedi<\/u>a<\/u>tric Surgic<\/u>a<\/u>l Innov<\/u>a<\/u>tion<\/u><\/a>. It is recognized for its expertise and innovation in pediatric care and as a strong voice for children through advocacy at the local, regional and national levels. As a non-profit, Children’s National relies on generous donors to help ensure that every child receives the care they need.\u00a0<\/p>\n

For more information, follow us on\u202fF<\/u>a<\/u>cebook<\/u><\/a>, Inst<\/u>a<\/u>gr<\/u>a<\/u>m<\/u><\/a>, Twitter<\/u><\/a> and LinkedIn<\/u><\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

WASHINGTON, Feb. 21, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Babies born during the COVID-19 pandemic have differences in the size of certain structures in the brain, compared to infants born before the pandemic, according to a new study led by researchers at Children\u2019s National Hospital.\u00a0 The team found differences in the brains of both infants whose mothers 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