# Evaluating Cross-Sectional Associations Between Cannabis Use and Prospective Memory in People with HIV

## TL;DR

This study found no significant link between cannabis use and prospective memory in people with HIV, though use motivation showed some nonsignificant trends.

## Contribution

The study is the first to evaluate cannabis use and prospective memory in people with HIV, revealing no significant association despite high cannabis use prevalence in this population.

## Key findings

- Cannabis use was not significantly associated with prospective memory performance in people with HIV.
- Use motivation showed a nonsignificant trend toward better memory performance for combined recreational-therapeutic use.
- Adjusting for confounders did not change the lack of significant associations between cannabis variables and memory scores.

## 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.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10461-025-04851-3.