No autism amongst Inuits in N. Quebec?

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Primary Author's Institution/Affiliation

Montreal Children's Hospital

Abstract Title

No Autism Amongst Inuits From Northern Quebec?

List of Authors

E. Fombonne, J. Morel, J. Macarthur

Enter your abstract here

Background: Autism has been found in most populations where it has

been investigated. We have preliminary evidence that autism does not

exist in the Inuit population of Northern Quebec

Methods: The authors know extensively the Inuit population (N=12,000)

of Northern Quebec. They have been responsible for more than 15 years

for pediatric care and special education in the 14 villages of this

huge territory. There is a universal free health care and educational

system, with repeated periodic medical examinations from birth

onwards, compulsory attendance to school, and excellent

medical/educational tracking record system for each child

Results: No case of autism was ever reported in an Inuit child in

this population in the last 15 years. A computer search of discharge

medical and psychiatric diagnoses failed to identify an ICD-9

diagnosis suggestive of autism or one of its variant. No case was

referred for psychiatric evaluation or special educational assessment

that would be consistent with autistic developmental impairments. In

order to develop a full epidemiological enquiry, we have conducted a

pilot study in 2 villages that demonstrated the feasibility of this

planned investigation.

Conclusion: Autism appears to not exist amongst Inuits from Northern

Quebec. If confirmed, it would have significant implications for the

genetic understanding of autism. In addition, as Inuits are exposed

through their fish-eating practices to high pre- and post-natal

levels of mercury, it would also suggest that high mercury exposure

in itself does not increase the risk of autism.

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Although they do not mention it, vaccine rates in the Inuit community

are quite high:

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fnih-spni/alt_formats/fnihb-

dgspni/pdf/pubs/2003_stat_profil_e.pdf

(warning, long document - tables on p. 37-39), but they are of the

order of 70% compared to 80-95% for the rest of Canada).

Here's an interesting paper discussing this population, and its low

rates of asthma. They mention that cats and dust mites are not

present in the population, and also mention the possible beneficial

effects of eating oily fish.

http://ajrccm.atsjournals.org/cgi/content/full/156/6/1870?

ijkey=cf26beefb45226ba946e525f245cb3453130a843