Investigating how cannabis affects cognitive impairment in people with HIV

Role of cannabis on HIV-related cognitive impairment: a brain connectomics study

NIH-funded research Wake Forest University Health Sciences · NIH-10890226

This study is looking at how using cannabis might affect thinking and memory in people living with HIV, and it will help us understand how HIV changes the brain over time by tracking brain connections and cognitive skills in 200 adults.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionWake Forest University Health Sciences NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Winston-Salem, United States)
Project IDNIH-10890226 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research explores the impact of cannabis use on cognitive impairment in individuals living with HIV. It aims to understand how HIV alters brain structure and function, particularly in relation to neural networks, and how cannabis may influence these changes. The study will involve analyzing brain connectivity and cognitive performance over time in a group of 200 adults with HIV, using advanced machine learning techniques to create personalized models for diagnosing and assessing the severity of cognitive impairment. Participants will undergo various assessments to track changes in brain organization and cognitive abilities.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who are living with HIV and may also use cannabis.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have HIV or are under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to better understanding and management of cognitive impairment in HIV-positive individuals, potentially improving their quality of life.

How similar studies have performed: While there is ongoing research into the effects of cannabis on various neurological conditions, this specific approach combining connectomics and HIV-related cognitive impairment is relatively novel.

Where this research is happening

Winston-Salem, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired Immune Deficiency SyndromeAcquired Immuno-Deficiency SyndromeAcquired Immunologic Deficiency SyndromeAcquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.