What are the impacts of natural disasters on babies? Potential effects of climate change on future generations

1. Introduction—The Invisible Scars Left by the "Distant Storm"

On June 11, 2025, Canada's national newspaper, Financial Post, reprinted a report from Bloomberg titled "Natural Disasters May Be Shaping Babies’ Brains." The report discussed an MRI study targeting children who were in the womb during Superstorm Sandy, indicating a deep relationship between extreme weather and fetal stress. bloomberg.com. In Japan, it quickly spread on X (formerly Twitter), and the unfamiliar keywords of climate crisis and brain development became trending topics.

2. Research Overview—Enlargement of the Basal Ganglia and Changes in Behavioral Characteristics

Professor Yoko Nomura, a leading expert in stress research (Queens College/Mount Sinai School of Medicine, USA), incorporated pregnant women from the Sandy storm zone into the ongoing "Stress in Pregnancy" cohort since 2009 and conducted a follow-up study for over 10 years after birth. The latest MRI findings are as follows theguardian.com.

The basal ganglia are involved in impulse, motor control, and reward systems, so increased volume could form the basis for hyperactivity, mood disturbances, and impulsivity. The professor suggests that "the brain's wiring may have been fixed in a 'disaster preparedness mode.'"

3. Epigenetic Perspective—Intrauterine Environment × Genetic Switch

Recent reports indicate that strong psychosocial stress can alter fetal DNA methylation via the placenta, increasing long-term neurodevelopmental risks. A review compiled by UNICEF in 2024 also warns that regions with frequent heatwaves and droughts see an increase in preterm births and low birth weights, heightening vulnerability from birth jp.weforum.org. The Sandy study supports this hypothesis in the form of a natural experiment.

4. Reactions on Social Media: "Impact on Fetuses" and "Update Disaster Education"

• Bloomberg Business Official Post (June 11, 18:02 ET)

  “Natural Disasters May Be Shaping Babies’ Brains. We need to start teaching pregnant people about climate risk.” Over 20,000 likes and reposts x.com.

• In a LinkedIn post by Bloomberg Green, journalist Emma Court explained that "basal ganglia hypertrophy is a signal of behavioral problems," gathering 100 comments in 24 hours cn.linkedin.com.

• On Japan's X, voices such as "Disaster-prone countries are more serious" and "Does 'climate disparity' start from fetal stages?" were prevalent, and practical actions were seen, such as parenting influencers calling for a review of mother-child evacuation bags.

5. Implications for Japan: What Can Be Done in the Earthquake and Typhoon Archipelago

5-1. Integration of Perinatal Care and Disaster Prevention

In Japan, where the Nankai Trough megaquake and linear precipitation zone heavy rains are anticipated, evacuation center design and recovery plans should incorporate "minimizing stress for pregnant women."

• Priority private spaces for pregnant women

• Rapid deployment of midwives and psychiatrists

• Relaxation programs to ease maternal stress hormones

5-2. Education and Public Relations

Implement "self-care methods during weather warnings" and "evacuation route notifications" in municipal mother-child handbook apps, linked with the Meteorological Agency API. According to social media analysis, the most widespread misinformation during disasters concerned "securing baby milk." An urgent system for pushing accurate information is needed.

5-3. Urban Planning

Measures against heat islands and flooding are not only for infrastructure protection but also contribute to reducing fetal risk, leading to long-term social cost reduction.

6. Global Research Trends and Challenges

• Animal Experiments Linking Brain Inflammation and Heat Stresstheguardian.com

• Infant Thermoregulation Vulnerabilityjp.weforum.org

• Air Pollution from Climate Change and Dementia Risktheguardian.com

However, the sample size is still small, and there is significant confounding from ethnic and socioeconomic factors. Integrated analysis of multi-regional cohorts and the "post-disaster biobank" concept are the next steps.

7. Conclusion - "Maternal Stress Measures = Investment in Future Generations"

Climate change is not merely an environmental issue; it affects the fetal brain, the "smallest unit of society." In an era where disasters and heatwaves become the norm, perinatal care needs to evolve into "triple resilience," encompassing safety assurance, mental health support, and information access. The lessons from Sandy serve as a warning for us as we prepare for Japan's next typhoon season.