Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39918581›Full record

ArticlePsychopharmacology2025

Effects of cannabis smoke and oral Δ9THC on cognition in young adult and aged rats.

Sabrina Zequeira, Emely A Gazarov, Alara A Güvenli, Erin C Berthold, Alexandria S Senetra, Marcelo Febo, Takato Hiranita, Lance R McMahon, Abhisheak Sharma, Christopher R McCurdy and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Psychopharmacology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
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  3. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Sabrina ZequeiraDepartment of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32608-0256, USA.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-1300-038X
Emely A GazarovDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Alara A GüvenliDepartment of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32608-0256, USA.
Erin C BertholdDepartment of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Alexandria S SenetraDepartment of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Marcelo FeboDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Takato HiranitaDepartment of Pharmacodynamics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Lance R McMahonDepartment of Pharmacodynamics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Abhisheak SharmaDepartment of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Christopher R McCurdyDepartment of Pharmaceutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Barry SetlowDepartment of Psychiatry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA.
Jennifer L BizonDepartment of Neuroscience, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, 32608-0256, USA. bizonj@ufl.edu.

Funding

Effects of cannabis on age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimers disease pathologyR01AG072714 · NIA · UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA · PI BIZON, JENNIFER LYNN, SETLOW, BARRY · 2021 to 2025
$3.0M
Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Research Foundation Evelyn F. McKnight Brain Research FoundationFlorida Department of Health 21A11NIA NIH HHS R01 AG072714NIA NIH HHS R01AG072714NINDS NIH HHS T32AG061832
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

rationaleWith increasing legalization of recreational and medical cannabis, use of this drug is growing rapidly among older adults. As cannabis can impair cognition in young adults, it is critically important to understand how its consumption interacts with the cognitive profile of aged subjects, who are already at increased risk of decline.

objectivesThe current study was designed to determine how cannabis influences multiple forms of cognition in young adult and aged rats of both sexes when delivered via two translationally-relevant routes of administration.

methodsRats were exposed acutely to cannabis smoke or chronically to oral Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9THC), followed by cognitive testing.

resultsAcute cannabis smoke enhanced prefrontal cortex-dependent working memory accuracy in aged males, but impaired accuracy in aged females, while having no effects in young adults of either sex. In contrast, the same cannabis smoke regimen had minimal effects on a hippocampus-dependent trial-unique non-matching to location mnemonic task, irrespective of age or sex. Chronic oral consumption of Δ9THC enhanced working memory in aged rats of both sexes, while having no effects in young adults. In contrast, the same Δ9THC regimen did not affect spatial learning and memory in either age group. Minimal age differences were observed in Δ9THC pharmacokinetics with either route of administration.

conclusionsThe results show that cannabis and Δ9THC can attenuate working memory impairments that emerge in aging. While these enhancing effects do not extend to hippocampus-dependent cognition, cannabis does not appear to exacerbate age-associated impairments in this cognitive domain.

Indexed as

AgingCognitionDronabinolMarijuana SmokingAdministration, OralAge FactorsAnimalsCannabisFemaleHippocampusMaleMemory, Short-TermPrefrontal CortexRatsRats, Sprague-DawleyDronabinolAgingCannabisCognitionExecutive functionRatSmokeWorking memoryΔ9THC

Identifiers

PMID39918581
PMCPMC12034345

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.