Covid-19 May Alter Sperm and Pass Anxiety Traits to Offspring, Study Finds

TDT | Manama

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A new study from Australia suggests that Covid-19 infections could have long-term effects extending beyond those directly infected — potentially influencing the mental health of future generations.

Researchers at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health in Melbourne discovered that male mice infected with the virus responsible for Covid-19 produced offspring that displayed heightened anxiety. The findings were published in the peer-reviewed journal Nature Communications.

“We found that the resulting offspring showed more anxious behaviours compared to offspring from uninfected fathers,” said Elizabeth Kleeman, the study’s first author.

The research revealed that all offspring from infected male mice exhibited noticeable behavioural differences. Notably, female offspring showed “significant changes” in gene activity within the hippocampus — the part of the brain responsible for regulating emotions.

“This may contribute to the increased anxiety we observed in offspring, through epigenetic inheritance and altered brain development,” explained Dr. Carolina Gubert, co-senior author of the study.

The researchers found that the virus caused changes to RNA molecules in sperm, some of which play key roles in regulating genes critical for brain development. According to Professor Anthony Hannan, lead researcher, these findings mark the first evidence of Covid-19’s potential intergenerational impact on behaviour and brain function.

“While our results are based on mice, if these findings translate to humans, this could impact millions of children worldwide and have major implications for public health,” Hannan said, adding that more research is needed to determine if similar effects occur in people.

The Covid-19 pandemic, which began in early 2020, has claimed more than seven million lives worldwide, according to the World Health Organization. Beyond physical illness, it has also deeply affected global mental health — particularly among younger people who experienced isolation and disrupted education.

A review of 40 international studies, published in Nature Human Behaviour in 2023, found that children have yet to recover fully from the learning losses caused by pandemic-related school closures.

The new findings from Melbourne raise further questions about Covid-19’s long-term legacy — not just on those who lived through it, but potentially on generations yet to come.