Original Investigation

Prenatal COVID-19 Exposure and Neurodevelopmental and Neurological Disorders in Children

JAMA Network Open 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.31847

September 03, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT

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In this population-based cohort study, children exposed to maternal COVID-19 prenatally did not show an increased risk of neurodevelopmental disorders, aside from an increased risk of speech or language disorders among those exposed in the early phase of the pandemic. These findings should be replicated in other populations and settings.

Corresponding Author: Maria C. Magnus, PhD, Centre for Fertility and Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, PO Box 222 Skøyen, 0,213 Oslo, Norway (maria.christine.magnus@fhi.no).

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