University of California at San Diego researchers examined data from 34 clinical studies to determine the effects of cannabis use on cognitive impairment of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) patients. The study published in Current HIV/AIDS Report found that reported adverse effects were significantly less than the beneficial or null findings. The study determined that there was insufficient evidence that cannabis use had a detrimental cognitive impact on people with HIV (PWH).
The meta-analysis provided critical insights into cannabis use and HIV patients. The results indicated little evidence to support claims that cannabis use harms cognition in HIV patients. The study suggested that the beneficial and harmful effects of cannabis consumption observed on cognitive performance were function-dependent and influenced by factors such as age and frequency of cannabis use. The researchers concluded that physicians can prescribe cannabis-based medications to PWH with little threat to cognitive function.
Data collected from previous surveys indicates that people living with HIV often use cannabis products for relief from inflammation and pain or to increase appetite and physical activity. Clinicians have expressed concern about the risks of cannabis use for HIV patients, but many emerging studies on cannabis use and HIV patients highlight its beneficial mental effects. Scientists believe that THC is effective in reducing inflammation in the brain and, therefore, slows the rate of mental functionality decline associated with HIV. One study found that HIV patients who smoked cannabis had fewer inflammatory cells than HIV patients who did not consume cannabis.
The researchers emphasized the importance of further research on cannabis and PWH, and they recommended facilitating comparisons across human and animal work using translatable cross-species tasks. The researchers emphasized the importance of further research on cannabis and PWH, and they recommended facilitating comparisons across human and animal work using translatable cross-species tasks. Future studies should investigate the effectiveness of cannabis in decreasing neuropathic pain, anxiety, and depression associated with HIV.
Sources: Current HIV/AIDS Report, NORML
