Epigenetic Insights into the Impact of Disaster-Related Prenatal Stress: A Narrative Review

Disaster-related prenatal maternal stress, whether due to natural or human-made crises, can have profound effects on offspring health and development. This narrative review synthesizes research findings on the epigenetic mechanisms through which prenatal maternal stress influences long-term offspring health outcomes. Focusing primarily on DNA methylation, we examine how exposure to stress during gestation alters the epigenetic profile and may contribute to mental, cognitive, and physical health vulnerabilities. Studies were categorized based on disaster type, including time-limited events such as hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, and stressors like the COVID-19 pandemic and famine. Key findings highlight the timing of exposure, sex-specific epigenetic effects, and the potential for epigenetic markers to mediate stress-induced health outcomes. While considerable progress has been made, our review emphasizes the need for further research on how epigenetics may mediate mental health outcomes and the development of interventions that target these molecular mechanisms.