Breathing training to lower blood pressure in sleep apnea
Official title: Neural effects of breathing training in obstructive sleep apnea
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-11398204 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A breathing training program helps people with obstructive sleep apnea lower their blood pressure by potentially calming the brain’s control of nerves that raise blood pressure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2025 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $682,687 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL181480-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11398204 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults 21 years and older with obstructive sleep apnea who are able to perform inspiratory muscle training.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without sleep apnea or those unable to perform the breathing training may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project explores how a short daily breathing exercise (inspiratory muscle training) may reduce blood pressure in adults with obstructive sleep apnea. Researchers will look at brain areas involved in autonomic control, especially the insula, to see how breathing training might change brain connectivity and sympathetic activity. The study uses MRI imaging and physiological measurements to connect changes in brain function with blood pressure outcomes. If successful, this could offer a simple, non-invasive approach to help manage high blood pressure in people with sleep apnea.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If the approach works, patients could gain a convenient method to lower blood pressure without replacing CPAP.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests breathing training can reduce blood pressure, but the exact brain mechanisms are being explored in this study.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Macey, Paul M — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Macey, Paul M
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.