What topics does this cannabis study cover?

This study covers research on: Neuroprotection, Mental Health.

Where was this research published?

Published in Journal of neurovirology on August 27, 2026.

Cannabis did not add to brain white-matter changes in people with HIV

Q: What did this research study find?

Among adults with and without HIV, *periventricular white matter hyperintensities* were higher in the cannabis-only and HIV-only groups than in controls.

Impact of cannabis use on white matter hyperintensities in adults with and without chronic HIV disease.

Journal of neurovirology • August 27, 2026 • Highly Relevant

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AI Summary

This study examined whether cannabis use was linked to additional white matter hyperintensities (WMHs)—MRI-visible changes in brain white matter—in adults with and without chronic HIV. The analysis included 296 adults divided into control, cannabis-only, HIV-only, and HIV-plus-cannabis groups. All participants living with HIV had sustained viral suppression, and researchers assessed both brain scans and cognitive performance.

Periventricular WMH levels were higher in the cannabis-only and HIV-only groups than in controls. However, the HIV-plus-cannabis group had WMH levels similar to controls, suggesting that cannabis use did not add to the WMH burden associated with HIV and might possibly be linked to a lower burden in this sample. Higher periventricular WMH levels were also associated with poorer cognitive performance. These findings do not establish that cannabis protects the brain, and the researchers emphasize that future studies should examine cannabis type, dose, and circulating cannabinoid metabolites.

💡 Key Findings

Among adults with and without HIV, periventricular white matter hyperintensities were higher in the cannabis-only and HIV-only groups than in controls.

Good

65%

Participants with both HIV and cannabis use had WMH levels similar to controls, suggesting cannabis did not additively increase white-matter burden in people with HIV.

Good

70%

Higher periventricular WMH load was associated with lower cognitive performance.

Good

70%

The findings may indicate a reduced WMH burden among people with co-occurring HIV and cannabis use, but they do not prove a protective effect and require confirmation in future research.

Moderate

50%

📄 Original Abstract

White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are prevalent among people living with HIV (PLWH), even with sustained viral suppression on antiretroviral therapy. This study investigated whether cannabis use contributes to additional WMH load among PLWH and its association to neurocognitive function. A total of 296 adult participants, stratified by HIV and cannabis status (74 control, 73 cannabis-only, 76 HIV-only and 73 HIV+cannabis) were enrolled. High resolution anatomical MRI and fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) images were collected, along with a battery of neuropsychological tests. Periventricular (pvWMH) and deep (dWMH) WMH loads were quantified using an automated pipeline. Statistical tests were employed to examine the main and interaction effects of HIV and cannabis use on WMH, and to explore the association of WMH loads with neuropsychological performance. The cohort had a mean age of 39.84 years, and all PLWH had sustained viral suppression. pvWMH loads were higher in the cannabis-only and HIV-only groups compared to controls. A significant interaction effect of HIV by cannabis was found for pvWMH load, such that participants with co-occurring HIV and cannabis use had similar pvWMH load compared to controls. In addition, increased pvWMH load significantly correlated with lower cognitive performance. Our findings suggest that cannabis use does not contribute additively to WMH burden in PLWH and may potentially be associated with a reduced WMH burden. However, future work is warranted to substantiate this finding, particularly with respect to type and levels of circulating cannabinoid metabolites.

Paper Type

📄 Research

Publication

Journal: Journal of neurovirology
Published: August 27, 2026
PMID: 42658415
DOI: 10.1007/s13365-026-01338-2

Authors (6)

Sreelakshmi Shaji Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA. sreelakshmi.shaji@advocatehealth.org.
Sheri L Towe Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Paul J Laurienti Department of Translational Neuroscience, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Robert G Lyday Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
Jonathan H Burdette Department of Radiology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
+1 more authors