Beneficial and adverse effects of THC on cognition in the HIV-1 transgenic rat model: Importance of exploring task- and sex-dependent outcomes.
Brain, behavior, and immunity April 1, 2025 Samantha M. Ayoub, Sunitha Vemuri, Elizabeth B. Hoang et al.
In a rat model of HIV, the psychoactive component of cannabis, THC, had opposite effects on different cognitive functions: it improved learning but worsened risk-based decision-making. HIV-transgenic rats and controls were tested on two tasks before and after acute and chronic THC injections. At baseline, HIV rats showed slower decision-making but intact cognition, suggesting early deficits. THC selectively altered performance in HIV rats, enhancing learning while impairing decision-making, effects not seen in controls. These findings mirror function-dependent cannabis effects observed in people with HIV and suggest THC may drive cannabis-induced cognitive changes in this population.