Modeling the Effects of Chronic Marijuana Use on Neuroinflammation and HIV-related Neuronal Injury

Launched by WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · Mar 19, 2021

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is investigating how long-term marijuana use affects inflammation in the brain and nerve damage related to HIV. The researchers want to understand how marijuana might influence brain health and cognitive function in people living with HIV. By studying these effects, they hope to identify ways that cannabinoids (substances found in marijuana) can help manage neurological problems in HIV patients.

To participate in this study, individuals must have confirmed HIV status and either currently use marijuana or not use it at all, depending on the group they join. Participants should also be receiving proper HIV care and have been on a stable treatment plan for at least a year. The study is open to all genders and includes adults aged 18 to 65. If you join, you’ll undergo assessments that may include brain imaging, and you’ll be contributing to important research that could help improve understanding of how marijuana interacts with HIV-related health issues.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • verified HIV status
• • Current marijuana use (MJ+ groups only)
• • No current marijuana use (MJ- groups only)
• • current engagement in HIV care (HIV+ participants only)
• • receipt of cART as first-line of treatment (HIV+ participants only)
• • stable cART regimen (HIV+ participants only)
• • undetectable HIV RNA viral load for \>1 year (HIV+ participants only)
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Lifetime abuse for any illicit drug other than marijuana
• • \<9th grade education; illiteracy or lack of fluency in English
• • history of moderate or severe head trauma
• • unstable or serious neurological disorders
• • severe mental illness
• • systemic autoimmune diseases
• • immunotherapy
• • MRI contraindications