The neurocognitive effects of a past cannabis use disorder in a diverse sample of people living with HIV

ABSTRACT

People living with HIV (PLWH) report higher rates of cannabis use than the general population, a trend likely to continue in light of recent policy changes and the reported therapeutic benefits of cannabis for PLWH. Therefore, it is important to better understand cannabis-associated effects on neurocognition, especially as PLWH are at heightened risk for neurocognitive impairment. This study aimed to elucidate the effects of a past cannabis use disorder on current neurocognition in a diverse sample of PLWH. This cross-sectional study included 138 PLWH (age M(SD) = 47.28(8.06); education M(SD) = 12.64(2.73); 73% Male; 71% Latinx) who underwent neuropsychological, DSM-diagnostic, and urine toxicology evaluations. One-way ANCOVAs were conducted to examine effects of a past cannabis use disorder (CUD+) on tests of attention/working memory, processing speed, executive functioning, verbal fluency, learning, memory, and motor ability. Compared to the past CUD- group, the past CUD+ group performed significantly better on tests of processing speed, visual learning and memory, and motor ability (p’s < .05). Findings suggest PLWH with past cannabis use have similar or better neurocognition across domains compared to PLWH without past use.

KEYWORDS:

• HIV
• PLWH
• cannabis
• neurocognition
• Latinx

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) [grant number K23MH079718]; the Alzheimer’s Association [grant number AARGD-NTF-16-446038]; the National Science Foundation (NSF) [grant number GRFP-G30328]; and the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities (NIMHD) [grant number F31-MD011582].