Covid-19 Infection May Alter Sperm and Raise Anxiety in Offspring, Study Finds
Photo Credit: AFP via The Hindu
Melbourne, October 12: A new study from the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health in Australia has revealed that Covid-19 infection in male mice caused biological changes in their sperm that may increase anxiety levels in their offspring, suggesting the virus’s potential long-term effects could extend beyond one generation.
The research, published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications, is the first to establish a link between Covid-19 infection in fathers and altered brain development and behaviour in their offspring.
Study Reveals Genetic and Behavioural Impact
Researchers infected male mice with the virus responsible for Covid-19 and then allowed them to mate with healthy females. The results showed a striking pattern: offspring born to infected fathers exhibited significantly higher anxiety-related behaviours compared to those whose fathers were uninfected.
“We found that the resulting offspring showed more anxious behaviours compared to offspring from uninfected fathers,” said Elizabeth Kleeman, the study’s first author.
Further examination revealed that female offspring were particularly affected, showing “significant changes” in the activity of certain genes in the hippocampus — a key part of the brain responsible for emotional regulation and memory formation.
Co-senior author Carolina Gubert noted that these genetic changes may have been passed down through epigenetic inheritance, meaning alterations in gene expression rather than the genes themselves.
“This may contribute to the increased anxiety we observed in offspring, via epigenetic inheritance and altered brain development,” she explained.
Molecular Changes Detected in Sperm
The team discovered that Covid infection altered molecules in the RNA of the fathers’ sperm, several of which regulate genes crucial for brain development. These changes, researchers said, could have downstream effects on the mental health and behaviour of subsequent generations.
Lead researcher Professor Anthony Hannan cautioned that while the findings were based on mice, the implications could be significant if similar patterns occur in humans.
“If our findings translate to humans, this could impact millions of children worldwide, with major implications for public health,” Hannan said.
He added that further studies are urgently needed to determine whether Covid-19 causes similar genetic and neurological changes in people.
Why the Findings Matter
The research comes at a time when the world continues to grapple with the long-term consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic, which has killed more than seven million people globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
Beyond its physical toll, the pandemic also left a deep mental health impact, particularly among young people. A 2023 review published in Nature Human Behaviour found that children worldwide still had not recovered from learning gaps and emotional stress caused by pandemic-era disruptions.
If the study’s results are confirmed in humans, it could mean that the effects of Covid-19 extend far beyond direct infection — potentially influencing the emotional and mental health of future generations.
A Call for Continued Research
The Florey Institute’s findings highlight the importance of investigating long-term, transgenerational effects of Covid-19. Researchers emphasize that while the mouse model provides strong evidence, human studies will be essential to confirm the biological and behavioural links.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
The Australian study underscores an unsettling possibility — that the impact of Covid-19 may not end with those infected. If similar effects are found in humans, the pandemic’s legacy could echo through generations, influencing mental health and development worldwide. As science continues to uncover the virus’s far-reaching consequences, these findings serve as a reminder that the fight against Covid-19 is not just about survival, but about safeguarding the future.