23 Jan 2026 • Children exposed to maternal infections around the time of pregnancy faced a significantly increased risk of suicide attempts later in life.

In an analysis spanning more than 30 years and including over 2.1 million individuals, suicide attempt rates were higher among those exposed in utero compared with unexposed peers (141.2 vs 90.0 per 100,000 person-years). Exposure during pregnancy was associated with a 46% higher rate of suicide attempts (IRR 1.46), with the strongest associations observed following infections in the second and third trimesters. Elevated risk was also seen when maternal infections occurred before pregnancy (IRR 1.45) and after childbirth (IRR 1.31).

No similar association was identified with paternal infections during the same time periods. The findings underscore the importance of infection prevention and careful perinatal care.

Source: Nature | Read full story