COVID-19 Infection Linked to Anxiety in Mouse Offspring via Sperm Changes
A new study published October 11, 2025, indicates that COVID-19 infection can induce changes in sperm that may lead to increased anxiety in subsequent generations. Researchers at the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health in Melbourne, Australia, conducted the research, suggesting the pandemic could have long-term consequences extending beyond initial infection.
The study involved infecting male mice with the virus responsible for COVID-19,then mating them with uninfected females. Researchers then analyzed the behavior and health of the offspring. Thay found that the offspring of infected fathers displayed considerably more anxious behaviors compared to those with uninfected fathers.
“We found that the offspring from these matings exhibited more anxious behaviors than those from uninfected fathers,” stated Elizabeth Kleeman, the study’s first author.
Published in Nature Communications, the research revealed that all offspring of infected fathers exhibited these behavioral changes.Specifically, female offspring showed “notable changes” in the activity of genes within the hippocampus – the brain region responsible for emotional regulation.
“This could contribute to the increased anxiety we observed in offspring,through epigenetic inheritance and impaired brain advancement,” explained Carolina Gubert,a co-author of the study.
The team discovered that the virus altered specific RNA molecules within the fathers’ sperm. These RNA molecules are known to play a role in regulating genes crucial for brain development. This is the first research to demonstrate a long-term impact of COVID-19 infection on the behavior and brain development of future generations.
Lead researcher Anthony Hannan emphasized the potential scope of these findings. “These results suggest that the Covid-19 pandemic could have lasting effects on future generations,” he said. However, he cautioned that further research is necessary to determine if these changes also occur in humans.
“If our findings apply to humans,it could impact millions of children around the world,and also their families,with major implications for public health,” Hannan added.
The COVID-19 pandemic, which began in early 2020, has been linked to over seven million deaths globally, according to the World Health Organization, though the actual number is likely higher. The pandemic and related public health measures have already been shown to have a significant impact on mental health, especially among young peopel who experienced social isolation during critical developmental periods. A 2023 analysis of 40 studies across 15 countries, published in Nature Human Behavior, found that children continue to experience academic setbacks resulting from pandemic-related school disruptions.
© Agence France-Presse
