Raul Gonzalez

Hispanic Americans face persistent health disparities rooted in complex sociocultural and bioecodevelopmental dynamics. Identifying early neurodevelopmental trajectories that confer risk or resilience during adolescence is critical for developing targeted health equity interventions. Grounded in the NIMHD Research Framework and bioecodevelopmental theory, data from 12- to 14-year-old Hispanic adolescents in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study were analyzed (n=236). Partial least squares correlation (PLSC) was used to evaluate multivariate associations between sociocultural measures—spanning individual, family, and community levels—and resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) networks. Post hoc linear mixed-effects models examined how derived sociocultural-rsFC patterns predicted measures of physical and mental health, linking bioecodevelopmental patterns to adolescent well-being. PLSC revealed dual community- and family-level neural pathways of biological embedding, diverging from traditional nested bioecodevelopmental assumptions. The community pathway linked child opportunity and neighborhood disadvantage to connectivity across Cingulo-Opercular, Default, Dorsal Attention, Visual Networks. This community-rsFC profile was associated with lower respiratory functioning, reflecting an allostatic load marker of environmental stress. The family pathway linked caregiver ethnic identity and heritage acculturation to Default, Ventral Attention, Sensorimotor-Mouth, and Visual Networks connectivity, suggesting that the family system shapes neural systems underlying social attunement and identity formation. Structural community factors and familial culture impose distinct neurobiological demands on the adolescent connectome among Hispanic youth. Findings highlight respiratory health as a biological marker of environmental adversity and underscore the necessity of structural and culturally sustaining interventions to promote health equity among Hispanic youth.

Background: Heavy cannabis use may impact neurocognitive functions, particularly prefrontal and limbic systems responsible for risk/reward processing and executive function, which are essential for certain health behaviors, such as HIV prevention. Rigorous research into the effects of cannabis on neurocognitive functions remains limited, particularly among populations with a high burden of HIV. Objective: This study aims to (1) evaluate associations between cannabis use and neurocognition, (2) evaluate associations between cannabis use and engagement in HIV status–neutral care outcomes (eg, pre-exposure prophylaxis persistence, viral suppression), and (3) assess whether cannabis use motivations modify associations between cannabis use and engagement in HIV status–neutral care outcomes. Methods: This longitudinal cohort study is enrolling a community-based sample of individuals aged 16 to 29 years residing in Chicago using multiple recruitment strategies. Participants complete 3 in-person assessments annually over 2 years that include (1) computer-assisted questionnaires, (2) neurocognitive assessments (functional magnetic resonance imaging, executive function tasks), and (3) biospecimen collection. Triangulation approaches combine objective and self-reported measures. Results: The Frontal Lobe Outcomes and Well-Being (FLOW) Study was funded by the National Institutes of Health in April 2023, with data collection commencing in October 2023. As of April 2026, 148 participants have been enrolled and completed baseline assessments, with 63 participants completing their first follow-up appointment and 4 participants completing their second follow-up appointment. Following a temporary administrative pause from March to August 2025 and subsequent federal review confirming regulatory compliance, the study resumed operations in July 2025. Recruitment is currently ongoing, with data collection expected to continue through June 2027. Preliminary analyses are pending completion of longitudinal data collection. Conclusions: This study addresses critical knowledge gaps by examining potential associations between cannabis use, neurocognition, and HIV. While geographic specificity, structural barriers, measurement challenges, and sample size constraints present some limitations, our methodological approaches—including longitudinal design, triangulation of both objective and self-reported measures, and rigorous neurocognitive assessments—strengthen the investigation. Findings will advance understanding of how cannabis use impacts neurocognition and HIV-related health behaviors, potentially informing targeted interventions that address both substance use and HIV transmission.

BACKGROUND Heavy cannabis use may impact neurocognitive functions, particularly prefrontal and limbic systems responsible for risk/reward processing and executive function, which are essential for certain health behaviors, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention. Rigorous research into the effect of cannabis on neurocognitive functions remains limited, particularly among populations with a heavy burden of HIV. OBJECTIVE Evaluate associations between cannabis use and neurocognition; (2) Evaluate associations between cannabis use and engagement in HIV status-neutral care outcomes (e.g., PrEP persistence, viral suppression); and (3) Assess whether cannabis use motivations modify associations between cannabis use and engagement in HIV status-neutral care outcomes. METHODS This longitudinal cohort study is enrolling a community-based sample of individuals ages 16-29 residing in Chicago using multiple recruitment strategies. Participants complete 3 in-person assessments annually over 2 years that include: (1) computer-assisted questionnaires, (2) neurocognitive assessments (fMRI, executive function tasks), and (3) biospecimen collection. Triangulation approaches combine objective and self-reported measures. RESULTS Building on pilot findings, we expect to identify distinctive neural and behavioral signatures among individuals who use cannabis heavily. Behaviorally, we anticipate heavy users will demonstrate initial risk-taking tendencies but retain capacity for adaptive learning. Neuroimaging analyses are expected to reveal enhanced ventral striatum activation during reward feedback, consistent with heightened reward sensitivity, and decreased hippocampal activation during safe decision-making, suggesting altered memory processing during risk assessment. These patterns may explain difficulties in treatment-seeking behaviors and engagement with HIV prevention while also indicating preserved learning capacity relevant for intervention design. CONCLUSIONS This study addresses critical knowledge gaps by examining potential associations between cannabis use, neurocognition, and HIV. While geographic specificity, structural barriers, measurement challenges, and sample size constraints present some limitations, our methodological approaches — including longitudinal design, triangulation of both objective and self-reported measures, and rigorous neurocognitive assessments — strengthen the investigation. Findings will advance understanding of how cannabis use impacts neurocognition and HIV-related health behaviors, potentially informing targeted interventions that address both substance use and HIV transmission.

Cannabis has become increasingly accessible to populations living with chronic health conditions such as HIV. Many people living with HIV are turning to cannabis for symptom relief despite the unclear risks to neurocognitive health. Our study sought to replicate and extend prior research by examining global and domain-specific neurocognitive performance between four groups stratified by use of cannabis (CB; CB+/CB-) and HIV serostatus (HIV+/HIV-). Our demographically diverse community sample (N = 269) underwent exclusion and inclusion criteria to isolate the effects of cannabis use (CU) and HIV on neurocognition. We explored between-group comparisons of neurocognitive performance, probability of neurocognitive impairment, and interactive effects of CU/HIV serostatus. Between-group comparisons revealed nonsignificant differences in global or domain-specific neurocognitive performance. However, the CB+/HIV+ group was three times (99% CI [1.18, 9.57]) more likely to be labeled with a memory impairment compared to the control (CB-/HIV-), and the CB+/HIV- group was twice (99% CI [.14, 7.47]) as likely to be labeled with an executive functioning impairment compared to the control. We also identified an interactive effect between the past 30-day CU and HIV serostatus for global (b = -.026, 99% CI [-.04, -.01]) and motor (b = -.052, 99% CI [-.07, -.03]) neurocognitive performance. Findings support a nuanced relationship between CU and HIV, which may partly explain mixed literature. Although we conclude that recent and heavy CU poses risk of neurocognitive decline among people living with HIVs, this effect is modest. Physicians and patients must weigh a possible decrease in global and motor neurocognition against the severity of symptoms being treated. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2025 APA, all rights reserved).

Studies examining the associations between decision-making (DM) and cannabis use (CU) often use cross-sectional, adult samples, and composite scores or single tasks to assess DM. The present study explored differential associations between tasks assessing DM under various risk conditions (i.e., ambiguous vs. explicit; gain vs. loss) and CU frequency, CU-related problems, and CU disorder (CUD) onset across a 2-year period within adolescence. Adolescents (n = 401, 90% Hispanic) aged 14-17 at baseline participated in five biannual assessments. CU frequency, CU-related problems, and CUD were assessed using the Drug Use History Questionnaire, Marijuana Problems Scale, and Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, respectively. DM was assessed using the Iowa gambling task (IGT), Game of Dice Task (GDT), and Cups Task. We used latent growth curve modeling to examine bidirectional associations between DM and escalation in CU frequency and CU-related problems, and discrete time survival analyses to determine whether baseline performance across DM tasks predicted CUD onset. Baseline performance on the GDT predicted greater escalation in CU (β = .200, p = .008) and CU-related problems (β = .388, p = .035). No other significant associations were found. DM under explicit risk may be a more salient risk factor for escalating CU and CU-related problems than DM under ambiguous risk. Deficits in executive functioning could partially explain the results. Findings suggest that neurocognitive development should inform prevention and intervention efforts focused on reducing CU. Given the exploratory nature of the present study, replication of findings is needed. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2023 APA, all rights reserved).

Objective: Poor decision-making may represent a risk factor for adverse cannabis-related outcomes, whereas exercise has been linked to better executive functioning and substance use outcomes. This study examines the associations between self-reported exercise and cannabis use (CU) outcomes over 6 months among adolescents, and whether these are mediated by exercise-related effects on decision-making. Method: Participants were 387 adolescents aged 15–18 who completed two assessments 6 months apart. Self-reported past 6-month hours/week of exercise were assessed at baseline. At the 6-month follow-up, participants completed measures assessing past 6-month CU frequency, presence of CU disorder (CUD), and CU-related problems, as well as risky decision-making tasks (Iowa Gambling Task, Game of Dice Task, Cups Task), which were used to derive a latent construct of decision-making. We used prospective mediation to examine the role of decision-making in the relationship between exercise and CU outcomes. Results: More self-reported exercise at baseline predicted greater CU frequency at the 6-month follow-up, but did not predict the presence of a CUD, or cannabis-related problems. After controlling for confounds, baseline exercise did not predict better decision-making at follow-up. Decision-making did not predict CU outcomes, and indirect effects of decision-making were not significant. Conclusions: Contrary to hypotheses, adolescents reporting more exercise at baseline also reported higher CU frequency in our sample. This association may be explained by factors like sample characteristics or sports types, but more research is needed to explore this. Results did not support a mediating role for decision-making in the associations between exercise and CU outcomes. Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/10826084.2021.1906279.

Hurricane Irma was the most powerful Atlantic hurricane in recorded history, displacing 6 million and killing over 120 people in the state of Florida alone. Unpredictable disasters like Irma are associated with poor cognitive and health outcomes that can disproportionately impact children. This study examined the effects of Hurricane Irma on the hippocampus and memory processes previously related to unpredictable stress. We used an innovative application of an advanced diffusion‐weighted imaging technique, restriction spectrum imaging (RSI), to characterize hippocampal microstructure (i.e., cell density) in 9‐ to 10‐year‐old children who were exposed to Hurricane Irma relative to a non‐exposed control group (i.e., assessed the year before Hurricane Irma). We tested the hypotheses that the experience of Hurricane Irma would be associated with decreases in: (a) hippocampal cellularity (e.g., neurogenesis), based on known associations between unpredictable stress and hippocampal alterations; and (b) hippocampal‐related memory function as indexed by delayed recall. We show an association between decreased hippocampal cellularity and delayed recall memory in children who experienced Hurricane Irma relative to those who did not. These findings suggest an important role of RSI for assessing subtle microstructural changes related to functionally significant changes in the developing brain in response to environmental events.