Disaster-related prenatal maternal stress has epigenetic outcomes
Epigenetic pathways are potential targets for preventive mental health interventions
Wolters Kluwer Health
January 8, 2026 — Maternal prenatal stress related to natural and human-made disasters can lead to epigenetic modifications in offspring, according to a narrative review published in Harvard Review of Psychiatry, part of the Lippincott portfolio from Wolters Kluwer. The review appears in a special issue on preventative psychiatry.
The term epigenetics refers to chemical and structural modifications that regulate gene activity in response to stress and other environmental factors without altering the underlying DNA sequence. The best-studied example is DNA methylation, which generally silences gene promoter activity, triggering chromatin inactivation and repressing gene expression.
Epigenetic markers show “significant promise for shaping interventions to mitigate the effects of stress on health outcomes,” say Lei Cao-Lei, PhD, an assistant professor in the Interdisciplinary School of Health Sciences at the University of Ottawa, and co-authors.
Comprehensive analysis aimed to link prenatal maternal stress to altered gene expression
By searching PubMed, Dr. Cao-Lei and her colleagues identified 24 research papers that address disaster-related prenatal stress, include a measure of one or more epigenetic mechanisms, and report effects on child health outcomes. The disasters studied were:
- Natural disasters: the 1976 Tangshan earthquake in China, the Quebec Ice Storm of 1998, Hurricane Maria’s devastation of Puerto Rico in 2017, and the September 2017 earthquake in Mexico City
- The COVID-19 pandemic (the associated fear and uncertainty, not infection itself)
- Human-made disasters: Holocaust-related trauma, the Dutch Hunger Winter of 1944–1945, the China famine of 1959–1961, war in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Tutsi genocide
Results demonstrated the complexity of epigenetic regulation
The key findings of the review were:
- Measurable stressors (e.g., property damage, loss of access to utilities, and displacement) appeared to have a more consistent influence on DNA methylation patterns than subjective stressors, suggesting that different types of stressors may trigger distinct epigenetic changes
- Epigenetic effects were more substantial, pronounced, and widespread when exposure occurred during the first or second trimester of gestation rather than later
- Prenatal maternal stress associated with consistently higher DNA methylation of the NR3C1 gene (a key regulator of the stress response system), which may impair function of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis; disruptions in this system during critical periods of development may increase susceptibility to mental health disorders later in life
Epigenetic markers have a role in stress-reduction therapy
Dr. Cao-Lei’s group explains that epigenetic markers such as DNA methylation have a dual function: they are indicators of mental disorder vulnerability but also potential targets for preventive interventions. For instance, previous research has demonstrated that cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness-based stress reduction can influence DNA methylation levels, potentially preventing or reversing the adverse epigenetic modifications associated with stress exposure.
“Epigenetic interventions hold promise for promoting resilience and reducing risk of long-term health issues by modifying epigenetic patterns associated with early-life stress, particularly in prenatal and early-life contexts,” the authors conclude. “As understanding of these mechanisms deepens, integrating epigenetics into intervention strategies could revolutionize prevention and treatment of stress-related health conditions.”
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Journal
Harvard Review of Psychiatry
Article Title
Epigenetic Insights into the Impact of Disaster-Related Prenatal Stress: A Narrative Review
Article Publication Date
8-Jan-2026
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