Investigating how specific breathing techniques affect Alzheimer's disease biomarkers and cognition.
Official title: Effects of Resonance-Frequency Breathing on Preclinical Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers and Cognition
Funded at University of Southern California · NIH-11085133 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a special breathing technique might help improve brain health and reduce a protein linked to Alzheimer's in adults aged 50-70, especially focusing on both African-American and European-American participants to better understand health differences.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Southern California NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | January 15, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $998,359 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG080652-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11085133 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are healthy adults aged 50-70, particularly those interested in cognitive health and Alzheimer's prevention.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with advanced Alzheimer's disease or significant cognitive impairment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the impact of resonance-frequency breathing on biomarkers associated with Alzheimer's disease in adults aged 50-70. Participants will engage in daily breathing sessions over ten weeks, with some practicing resonance-frequency breathing and others using different techniques. The study aims to understand how these breathing methods influence levels of beta-amyloid, a protein linked to Alzheimer's, and cognitive function. By focusing on both African-American and European-American adults, the research seeks to address health disparities in Alzheimer's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to non-invasive, cost-effective interventions that help prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results with breathing techniques affecting biomarkers in other health conditions, suggesting potential for success in this novel application.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Southern California
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mather, Mara — University of Southern California
- Study coordinator: Mather, Mara
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Neuroinflammation and Alzheimer’s biomarkers: how they change together over time
This project studies how brain inflammation relates to Alzheimer’s biomarkers and memory changes over the course of the disease, to help predict progression.
-
Linking in utero exposures to midlife brain health and Alzheimer's risk
Researchers are studying how environmental exposures before birth may affect thinking skills in midlife and support early signs of Alzheimer's risk.
-
Combining aging surveys to understand memory, Alzheimer's, and dementia care
This project brings together long-term survey data from many countries and adds things like air pollution and care-policy information to see how they relate to memory, mild cognitive problems, and Alzheimer's risk in older adults.
-
Understanding how environment affects Alzheimer’s disease in older adults
A long-term study in adults 21 and older will look at how air pollution, chemical exposures, and social factors relate to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias.
-
Midlife memory and dementia risk in Kenyan adults
This work looks at midlife thinking and memory and how childhood health and life experiences might affect future dementia risk for Kenyan adults.
-
Enhancing how doctors and families talk about cognition for older adults with dementia and cancer
A patient-friendly tool is being adapted to help people with Alzheimer’s or related dementias and their caregivers discuss cognitive issues when making cancer treatment decisions.
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.