03 Nov Marijuana Use Linked To Cognitive Impairment In HIV Patients

Posted at 14:55h in Author Interviews, Cannabis, Cognitive Issues, HIV by

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM Department of Community Health Sciences Boston University School of Public Health Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicin Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center Boston , Massachusetts

Dr. Saitz

Richard Saitz, MD, MPH, FACP, DFASAM
Department of Community Health Sciences
Boston University School of Public Health
Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit
Section of General Internal Medicine, Department of Medicin
Boston University School of Medicine and Boston Medical Center
Boston , Massachusetts

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Many people living with HIV infection use alcohol and other drugs including marijuana. People with HIV infection are also susceptible to cognitive dysfunction from many causes from HIV infection itself to aging.

The main findings were that among people with HIV and substance use disorder, lifetime marijuana and alcohol use were not associated with cognitive dysfunction, likely due to competing risks.  But current marijuana use was associated with cognitive dysfunction.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Response: That marijuana may impair cognitive function among people with HIV infection and substance use disorder.  Said another way, marijuana use is not without risks, and cognitive dysfunction is an important issue among those with HIV infection.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: Future studies should use better measures of cognitive function, in larger samples, and should aim to clarify what contributes to cognitive dysfunction. 

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

Citation:

Subst Abus. 2017 Oct 23:0. doi: 10.1080/08897077.2017.1391925. [Epub ahead of print]

Lifetime Marijuana and Alcohol Use, and Cognitive Dysfunction in People with Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection.

Note: Content is Not intended as medical advice. Please consult your health care provider regarding your specific medical condition and questions.

 

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Last Updated on November 3, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD

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