Evaluating Cross-Sectional Associations Between Cannabis Use and Prospective Memory in People with HIV
Mark K. Britton, Elie Haddad, Yancheng Li, Eric C. Porges, Natalie E. Chichetto, Charurut Somboonwit, Gladys E. Ibañez, Ronald A. Cohen, Robert Lewis Cook
AIDS and behavior September 12, 2025 DOI: 10.1007/s10461-025-04851-3 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Cross-sectional observational study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 307 |
| Population | People with HIV (PWH), 79% of whom reported regular cannabis use |
| Measures | Memory for Intentions Test (MIST), Wechsler Test of Adult Reading |
| Topics | Cannabis |
| Key findings | Regular cannabis use was not significantly associated with prospective memory scores in people with HIV, in unadjusted or adjusted models (β = -0.04, 95% CI -0.29 to 0.21). Among regular users, no cannabis use variable was significantly associated with memory after adjustment; the largest nonsignificant effect suggested better performance with combined recreational and therapeutic motives versus predominantly recreational use (β = 0.28, p = 0.067). |
Abstract
Prospective memory (PM) deficits are common among people with HIV (PWH) and are linked to poor clinical outcomes. Risk factors for PM deficits in PWH are poorly understood. While cannabis use is associated with worse PM in people without HIV, it is unclear whether this association generalizes to PWH. Three hundred and seven PWH (79% with regular cannabis use) completed the Memory for Intentions Test (MIST). Associations between regular use (vs. no/minimal lifetime use) and MIST score were evaluated. Among participants with regular use, bivariate associations were evaluated between MIST score and self-reported cumulative 30-day THC dose, use frequency, duration of heaviest lifetime use, age of first use, and use motivation (predominantly-recreational, predominantly-therapeutic, or combined). Confounding was addressed with linear regressions adjusted for age and Wechsler Test of Adult Reading. Cannabis use (vs. non-use) was not significantly associated with MIST score in unadjusted or adjusted models (β = - 0.04, 95% CI = - 0.29, 0.21, p = 0.74). After confounder adjustment, no associations between cannabis variables and MIST score reached statistical significance. The largest (albeit nonsignificant) effect in adjusted models was found for use motivation: participants with combined use showed better MIST performance vs. predominantly-recreational use (β = 0.28, 95% - 0.02, 0.57, p = 0.067). Participants reporting predominantly-therapeutic use vs. predominantly-recreational use performed similarly (β = 0.03, 95% CI = - 0.30, 0.37, p = 0.85). PM was not significantly associated with cannabis use in PWH. Associations between motivation for use and PM in PWH warrant further investigation.
Comparable studies
Other cross-sectional and survey studies on cannabis, most cited first.
| Study | Year | Design | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cannabis use before age 15 and subsequent executive functioning 104 chronic cannabis users (49 early-onset before age 15, 55 late-onset after age 15)... | 2011 | Observational cross-sectional study | n = 148 |
| Patterns of simultaneous polysubstance use in drug using university students Drug-using university students | 2006 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 149 |
| Persisting Reductions in Cannabis, Opioid, and Stimulant Misuse After Naturalistic Psychedelic Use: An Online Survey Online survey respondents | 2020 | Cross-sectional survey | |
| User perceptions of the benefits and harms of hallucinogenic drug use: A web-based questionnaire study Users of hallucinogenic drugs who completed a web-based questionnaire | 2010 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 600 |
| Illicit Use of LSD or Psilocybin, but not MDMA or Nonpsychedelic Drugs, is Associated with Mystical Experiences in a Dose-Dependent Manner Adults recruited from the MAPS website and newsletter, most reporting use of various... | 2012 | Cross-sectional survey | n = 337 |
Citations in the library
Cites 7
- Cannabis‐related deficits in real‐world memory Human Psychopharmacology: Clinical and Experimental March 1, 2012
- Non-Dependent and Dependent Daily Cannabis Users Differ in Mental Health but Not Prospective Memory Ability Frontiers in Psychiatry March 27, 2018
- Implications of MDMA use for prospective memory function and substance use patterns in an Australian sample: A web‐based pilot study Australian Journal of Psychology March 16, 2011
- The Impact of Cannabis Use on Cognition in People with HIV: Evidence of Function-Dependent Effects and Mechanisms from Clinical and Preclinical Studies Current HIV/AIDS Reports April 11, 2024
- A longitudinal study of cannabis use and risk for cognitive and functional decline among older adults with HIV AIDS and behavior May 8, 2023
and 2 more in the library