Born Into Crisis: How Climate Change May Affect Babies’ Brains Before Birth

Climate Disasters During Pregnancy May Cause Long-Term Changes in Children’s Brain Development.

A new study has found that climate disasters experienced during pregnancy may have a lasting impact on children’s brain development, offering fresh evidence that the consequences of extreme weather events extend far beyond physical destruction.

Published in PLOS One, the research examined the effects of Superstorm Sandy, which struck the U.S. East Coast in 2012, on children who were exposed in the womb. The findings suggest that prenatal exposure to such events may alter brain structure and potentially affect long-term emotional and cognitive outcomes.

What the Study Found
Researchers assessed 34 children, 11 of whom were in utero during the storm. At around eight years old, MRI scans revealed that those exposed to Sandy had a 6% increase in the size of the basal ganglia, a brain region associated with emotion regulation, motor control, and psychiatric conditions such as anxiety, depression, and autism.

“We believe these changes could lead to negative behavioral consequences,” said lead author Donato DeIngeniis, a doctoral student in clinical neuropsychology at the CUNY Graduate Center.

Compounded Stress: Heat and Disasters
The effects were more pronounced in children whose mothers experienced both Superstorm Sandy and extreme heat during pregnancy. In these cases, researchers found imbalanced growth in different parts of the basal ganglia, suggesting the brain may have been compensating for early stress — a response often seen in the aftermath of injury or trauma.

From the Womb to the Wider Climate Crisis
Lead researcher Dr. Yoko Nomura, a professor at Queens College, initiated the study after observing the psychological toll on pregnant evacuees sheltering on campus during Sandy.

Her team’s work adds to growing evidence that climate-related stress during pregnancy — including heatwaves, wildfires, and displacement — can significantly influence fetal brain development.

Previous research, like Canada’s Project Ice Storm, linked prenatal stress from natural disasters to lower IQ and emotional regulation issues. This new study is among the first to document structural brain differences using imaging.

Early Warnings, Ongoing Research
Though the study’s small sample size — partly due to the pandemic and the cost of brain imaging — limits the scope of its conclusions, experts believe its implications are profound.

“Small but mighty,” said Burcin Ikiz, chair of Columbia University’s Neuro Climate Working Group. “This is one of the first studies to look at combined climate stressors and their neurological impact.”

The research team is currently expanding their study with a larger group of 80 children and plans to focus more closely on extreme heat’s effects. Still, Nomura emphasized the urgency of publishing preliminary results to raise public awareness.

“This is something expecting parents should be aware of,” she said. “And society must develop strategies to protect pregnant individuals from climate-related stress.”