Pandemic Legacy: COVID-19's Intergenerational Impact on Brain Development

A study by the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health reveals that male mice infected with COVID-19 have offspring exhibiting anxiety-like behaviors. The altered sperm RNA may influence brain development, raising concerns of long-term impacts on future generations if findings hold true in humans.

A recent study conducted by the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health in Australia has identified potential long-lasting effects of COVID-19 on future generations. Researchers found that male mice infected with the virus had offspring that displayed heightened anxiety-like behaviors.

The study used a preclinical model where male mice were infected with SARS-CoV-2 and later bred with healthy females. The resulting offspring showed increased anxious behaviors, indicating that the virus may alter genetic information in sperm that affects brain development.

Lead researchers caution that if these findings are confirmed in humans, they could have significant implications for public health, affecting millions worldwide. The study emphasizes the need for further research into the intergenerational impacts of COVID-19.

(With inputs from agencies.)