Sex-specific vulnerabilities in early human neurodevelopment following SARS-CoV-2-induced maternal immune activation.

This study examines the effects of SARS-CoV-2-induced maternal immune activation (MIA) on early neurodevelopment, focusing on sex-specific vulnerabilities related to early behavioral and regulatory functions, which may be precursors to later developmental or cognitive challenges. A total of 107 moth...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Publicado en:European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Vol. 35; no. 1; pp. 239 - 252
Autores principales: Díaz-Pons, Alexandre, Castaño-Castaño, Sergio, Ortiz-García de la Foz, Víctor, Ayesa-Arriola, Rosa
Formato: research tables/charts Journal Article
Publicado: Springer Nature Jan2026
Acceso en línea:Ver este registro en EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=191657822&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 191657822
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        10188827
        EJ3
      jtl: European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry
      issn: 10188827
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: Jan2026
      vid: 35
      iid: 1
      pid: 237
      pub: Springer Nature
      place: New York, New York
    artinfo:
      ui:
        191657822
        187546603
        191657822
        191657822
        10.1007/s00787-025-02837-z
        191657822
      ppf: 239
      ppct: 13
      formats:
        fmt:
          – @attributes:
              type: T
          – @attributes:
              type: P
      tig:
        atl: Sex-specific vulnerabilities in early human neurodevelopment following SARS-CoV-2-induced maternal immune activation.
      aug:
        au:
          Díaz-Pons, Alexandre
          Castaño-Castaño, Sergio
          Ortiz-García de la Foz, Víctor
          Ayesa-Arriola, Rosa
        affil: https://ror.org/025gxrt12 Departamento de Investigación en Enfermedades Mentales, Instituto de Investigación Marqués de Valdecilla (IDIVAL), 39011, Santander, España
      sug:
        subj:
          COVID-19 Complications
          Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects Immunology
          Pregnancy Complications, Infectious Immunology
          Sex Factors
          Mental Disorders Diagnosed in Childhood
          Child Development Evaluation
          Reflex Evaluation
          Scales
          Human
          Funding Source
          Pregnancy
          Female
          Male
          Nonexperimental Studies
          Prospective Studies
          Mother-Infant Relations
          Spain
          Academic Medical Centers
          Polymerase Chain Reaction
          State-Trait Anxiety Inventory
          Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale
          Psychological Tests
          Cytokines
          Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
          Descriptive Statistics
          Chi Square Test
          T-Tests
          Analysis of Variance
          Mann-Whitney U Test
          Analysis of Covariance
          Post Hoc Analysis
          Two-Tailed Test
          Income
          Interleukins Blood
          Infant, Newborn
          Infant
          Adult
          Infant, Newborn: birth-1 month
          Infant: 1-23 months
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Female
          Male
      ab: This study examines the effects of SARS-CoV-2-induced maternal immune activation (MIA) on early neurodevelopment, focusing on sex-specific vulnerabilities related to early behavioral and regulatory functions, which may be precursors to later developmental or cognitive challenges. A total of 107 mother-infant dyads from the COGESTCOV-19 study were analyzed to assess neurodevelopmental outcomes in male and female infants at six weeks using the Neonatal Behavioral Assessment Scale (NBAS). Maternal and newborn cytokine levels—specifically interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), and the IL-6/IL-10 ratio—were measured at the first prenatal visit at the time of study enrolment and at birth to evaluate inflammatory responses and homeostatic balance. Neither maternal nor newborn cytokine levels differed significantly between cases and controls. Significant sex-specific differences were observed in neurodevelopmental outcomes related to maternal SARS-CoV-2 exposure. Female infants exposed in utero showed significantly reduced performance in orientation and state regulation measures compared to exposed male infants and unexposed male and female controls. The findings suggest that SARS-CoV-2-induced MIA — not limited to IL-6/IL-10 balance — may have a differential impact on early neurodevelopment based on sex, underscoring the necessity for targeted interventions to mitigate these effects. Future studies should explore the mechanisms underlying these sex-specific differences and their long-term implications for neurodevelopment.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N