title: Association between interleukin-6 and neurocognitive performance as a function of self-reported lifetime marijuana use in a community based sample of African American adults.
abstract: The purpose of the current study was to determine if self-reported lifetime marijuana use moderates the relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and neurocognitive performance. Participants included 161 African American adults (50.3% women), with a mean age of 45.24 (SD=11.34). Serum was drawn upon entry into the study and participants completed a demographic questionnaire, which included drug use history, and a battery of neuropsychological tests. Using multiple regression analyses and adjusting for demographic covariates, the interaction term comprised of IL-6 and self-reported lifetime marijuana use was significantly associated with poorer performance on the Written (β=-.116; SE=.059; p=.049) and Oral trials (β=-.143; SE=.062; p=.022) of the Symbol Digit Modalities Test, as well as the Trail Making Test trial A (β=.157; SE=.071; p=.028). Current findings support previous literature, which presents the inverse relationship between IL-6 and neurocognitive dysfunction. The potential protective properties of marijuana use in African Americans, who are at increased risk for inflammatory diseases, are discussed.
authors.affiliation: 1Department of Clinical and Health Psychology,University of Florida,Gainesville,Florida.
authors.forename: Larry
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Keen
authors.affiliation: 2Center of Excellence on Disparities in HIV and Aging,Rush University Medical Center,Chicago,Illinois.
authors.forename: Arlener D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Turner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000523:psychology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008385:Marijuana Smoking / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015850:Interleukin-6