Climate Disasters & Brain Development: Prenatal Exposure Risks
- Exposure to climate disasters in utero may leave "invisible scars" on children's brains, according to new research from the CUNY Graduate Center.
- The research team, led by Professor Yoko Nomura, analyzed brain imaging data from 8-year-old children whose mothers were pregnant during Superstorm Sandy in 2012.
- "The combination of storm stress and extreme heat created a perfect neurological storm in developing brains," said Nomura, principal investigator of the Stress in Pregnancy (SIP) Study and...
Climate disasters during pregnancy may pose previously unknown neurological risks to unborn children.New research reveals that prenatal exposure to events like superstorm Sandy can lead to altered brain progress, specifically affecting the basal ganglia, a critical region for emotion regulation. The combination of storm stress and extreme heat acts as a catalyst, amplifying these detrimental effects. This article details how MRI scans show notable differences in children exposed in utero. Discover the long-term implications of climate change on fetal development and the necessity for targeted interventions. news Directory 3 offers this crucial update. Explore the latest findings on how environmental factors shape the developing brain and strategies to support pregnant women during climate events. Discover what’s next …
prenatal Climate Disaster Exposure Linked to Altered Child Brain Development
Exposure to climate disasters in utero may leave “invisible scars” on children’s brains, according to new research from the CUNY Graduate Center. A study focusing on the impact of Superstorm Sandy reveals potential long-term neurological effects on children whose mothers were pregnant during the storm.
Climate change in the Womb
The research team, led by Professor Yoko Nomura, analyzed brain imaging data from 8-year-old children whose mothers were pregnant during Superstorm Sandy in 2012. The MRI scans indicated that children exposed to the storm in utero had significantly larger volumes in the basal ganglia,deep brain structures critical for emotion regulation.
“The combination of storm stress and extreme heat created a perfect neurological storm in developing brains,” said Nomura, principal investigator of the Stress in Pregnancy (SIP) Study and Psychology professor at the CUNY Graduate Center and Queens College.The study considered extreme heat as at least one day above 95°F during the pregnancy.
Researchers found that while extreme heat alone did not significantly alter brain volume, it dramatically amplified the effects when combined with the stress of experiencing a major storm during pregnancy. The study involved MRI scans of 34 children, comparing those exposed to the storm and/or extreme heat to those who were not.
Lifelong Effects of Climate Disasters
Donato DeIngeniis, a CUNY Graduate Center Psychology Ph.D. student, emphasized the need to consider the “invisible toll” on future generations as extreme weather events become more frequent. “Our findings suggest we must develop targeted interventions to support pregnant women during climate disasters and strengthen climate resilience in vulnerable communities,” DeIngeniis said.
Duke Shereen, director of the Magnetic Resonance Imaging facility at the Advanced Science Research Center at the CUNY Graduate Center, highlighted the long-term implications. “These imaging techniques allow us to visualize how environmental stressors can cascade through maternal experience to alter the architecture of the developing brain,” Shereen said.
Shereen added, “What we are seeing is compelling evidence that the climate crisis is not just an environmental emergency, it is indeed possibly a neurological one with consequences for future generations who will inherit our planet.” The study underscores the impact of prenatal exposure to climate disasters and the need for proactive measures to protect vulnerable populations.
More facts: Donato DeIngeniis et al, Prenatal exposure to extreme ambient heat may amplify the adverse impact of Superstorm Sandy on basal ganglia volume among school-aged children, PLOS One (2025). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0324150