Breathing Practice for Brain and Mental Health in Cancer and Neurodegenerative Diseases

NCT ID: NCT06788886

Last Updated: 2025-12-30

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

147 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-02-05

Study Completion Date

2027-01-18

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This clinical trial studies the effect of respiratory training for enhancing brain and mental health among patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and cancer (along with their caregivers). The relationship between respiration, cardiovascular effects in the brain, mental health, and neurophysiological mechanisms are significant for patient populations facing complex health challenges, such as those with cancer and neurodegenerative disease, and their caregivers. By measuring oxygen delivery to brain tissues and cerebrospinal fluid flow, this trial may help researchers investigate the potential benefits of respiratory training for patients with MS and cancer and their caregivers.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

PRIMARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To evaluate the immediate and long-term effects of improved respiratory function on local tissue oxygen delivery and cerebral circulation, by comparing control and training groups.

SECONDARY OBJECTIVE:

I. To identify key biological aspects of breathing related to brain health and mental well-being, our research explores how respiratory function can improve clinical symptoms related to fatigue and emotional states.

EXPLORATORY OBJECTIVE:

I. To establish a clinically applicable support tool that uses effective breathing practice to help patients, and their caregivers better navigate their clinical treatment.

OUTLINE: Participants are assigned to 1 of 3 studies.

STUDY 1: Participants are randomized to 1 of 2 groups.

GROUP 1: Participants engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for 4 months on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. At month 4, participants are randomized to 1 of 2 subgroups.

SUBGROUP 1: Participants engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for an additional 2 months on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. Participants also undergo MRI scans throughout the study.

SUBGROUP 2: Participants discontinue breathing self-practice routines for the additional 2 months on study. Participants also undergo MRI scans throughout the study.

GROUP 2: Participants engage in walking self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for 4 months on study. Participants may also participate in in-person group walking session with other participants weekly on study. At month 4, participants are randomized to 1 of 2 subgroups.

SUBGROUP 3: Participants engage in walking self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for an additional 2 months on study. Participants may also participate in in-person group walking session with other participants weekly on study. Participants also undergo MRI scans throughout the study.

SUBGROUP 4: Participants engage in walking self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for an additional 2 months and also engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for 2 months on study. Participants may also participate in in-person group walking session with other participants weekly on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. Participants also undergo MRI scans throughout the study.

STUDY 2: Cancer patients and their caregivers engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for 4 months on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. Participants also undergo MRI scans throughout the study.

STUDY 3: MS patients engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for 4 months on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. At month 4, participants are randomized to 1 of 2 subgroups.

SUBGROUP 5: MS patients engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for an additional 2 months on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. Patients also undergo MRI scans and blood sample collection throughout the study.

SUBGROUP 6: MS patients discontinue breathing self-practice routines for the additional 2 months on study. Patients also undergo MRI scans and blood sample collection throughout the study.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Malignant Brain Neoplasm Malignant Solid Neoplasm Multiple Sclerosis Neuroendocrine Tumor Prostate Carcinoma

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Blinding Strategy

NONE

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Study 1 Group 1, Subgroup 1 (6 month breathing sessions)

Participants engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for 4 months on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. Participants then engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for an additional 2 months on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. Participants also undergo MRI scans throughout the study.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo MRI

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Respiratory Therapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Participate in breathing sessions

Study 1 Group 1, Subgroup 2 (4 month breathing sessions)

Participants engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for 4 months on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. Participants then discontinue breathing self-practice routines for the additional 2 months on study. Participants also undergo MRI scans throughout the study.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo MRI

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Respiratory Therapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Participate in breathing sessions

Study 1 Group 2, Subgroup 3 (6 month walking routines)

Participants engage in walking self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for 4 months on study. Participants may also participate in in-person group walking session with other participants weekly on study. Participants then engage in walking self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for an additional 2 months on study. Participants may also participate in in-person group walking session with other participants weekly on study. Participants also undergo MRI scans throughout the study.

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

Exercise Intervention

Intervention Type OTHER

Participate in walking routines

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo MRI

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Study 1 Group 2, Subgroup 4 (walking + breathing)

Participants engage in walking self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for 4 months on study. Participants may also participate in in-person group walking session with other participants weekly on study. Participants then engage in walking self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for an additional 2 months and also engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for 2 months on study. Participants may also participate in in-person group walking session with other participants weekly on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. Participants also undergo MRI scans throughout the study.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Exercise Intervention

Intervention Type OTHER

Participate in walking routines

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo MRI

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Respiratory Therapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Participate in breathing sessions

Study 2 (4 month breathing sessions)

Cancer patients and their caregivers engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for 4 months on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. Participants also undergo MRI scans throughout the study.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo MRI

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Respiratory Therapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Participate in breathing sessions

Study 3 Subgroup 5 (6 month breathing sessions)

MS patients engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for 4 months on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. MS patients then engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for an additional 2 months on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. Patients also undergo MRI scans and blood sample collection throughout the study.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Biospecimen Collection

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo blood sample collection

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo MRI

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Respiratory Therapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Participate in breathing sessions

Study 3 Subgroup 6 (4 months breathing sessions)

MS patients engage in breathing self-practice routines using a mobile app over 30 minutes daily for 4 months on study. Participants may participate in real-time online breathing sessions with instructors weekly on study. Participants may also participate in in-person breathing sessions with instructors monthly on study. MS patients then discontinue breathing self-practice routines for the additional 2 months on study. Patients also undergo MRI scans and blood sample collection throughout the study.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Biospecimen Collection

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo blood sample collection

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Undergo MRI

Questionnaire Administration

Intervention Type OTHER

Ancillary studies

Respiratory Therapy

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Participate in breathing sessions

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Biospecimen Collection

Undergo blood sample collection

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Exercise Intervention

Participate in walking routines

Intervention Type OTHER

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Undergo MRI

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Questionnaire Administration

Ancillary studies

Intervention Type OTHER

Respiratory Therapy

Participate in breathing sessions

Intervention Type PROCEDURE

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

Biological Sample Collection Biospecimen Collected Specimen Collection Magnetic Resonance Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) Magnetic resonance imaging (procedure) Magnetic Resonance Imaging Scan Medical Imaging, Magnetic Resonance / Nuclear Magnetic Resonance MR MR Imaging MRI MRI Scan MRIs NMR Imaging NMRI Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging sMRI Structural MRI

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* STUDY 1: Participants must be physically fit enough to perform light exercise.
* STUDY 1: Should read and understand English well enough to consent, complete measures, and follow instructions.
* STUDY 1: Must have access to a smartphone or tablet.
* STUDY 2: Participants must be physically fit enough to perform light exercise.
* STUDY 2: Cancer patients may have prostate cancer, neuroendocrine tumor, or brain cancer in any stage.
* STUDY 2: The main focus is on pairs of cancer patients and their respective caregivers, but individual cancer patients or individual caregivers are also acceptable.
* STUDY 2: Participants should read and understand English well enough to consent, complete measures, and follow instructions.
* STUDY 2: They also must have access to a smartphone or tablet.
* STUDY 3: Participants must be physically fit enough to perform light exercise.
* STUDY 3: The patient should have multiple sclerosis.
* STUDY 3: Participants should read and understand English well enough to consent, complete measures, and follow instructions.
* STUDY 3: They also must have access to a smartphone or tablet.

Exclusion Criteria

* STUDY 1: Participants incompatible with MRI machines due to factors such as pacemakers or metallic implants.
* STUDY 1: Additionally, those with chronic medical conditions, including heart disease (coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, cardiac arrhythmia), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, cancer, diabetes, sleep apnea, aneurysms, and neurological conditions (epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington' disease, essential tremor and Parkinson disease) are excluded.
* STUDY 1: Participants with psychiatric conditions such as psychosis, suicidality, bipolar disorder, major depression, and substance use disorders are excluded.
* STUDY 1: Participants serving as caregivers for any of the aforementioned conditions and for other illnesses such as cancer or neurological disorders, are also excluded.
* STUDY 1: Further exclusions apply to those with severe vision, hearing impairments, have a body mass index (BMI) over 30, and those who are pregnant.
* STUDY 1: Those planning to become pregnant during the study period will be excluded.
* STUDY 2: Participants incompatible with MRI machines due to factors such as pacemakers or metallic implants are excluded, as are those with chronic lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease \[COPD\], cystic fibrosis), aneurysms, and those who are pregnant.
* STUDY 2: Those planning to become pregnant during the study period will be excluded.
* STUDY 3: Participants incompatible with MRI machines due to factors such as pacemakers or metallic implants are excluded, as are those with chronic lung disease (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease \[COPD\], cystic fibrosis), aneurysms, and those who are pregnant.
* STUDY 3: Those planning to become pregnant during the study period will be excluded.
Minimum Eligible Age

18 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

85 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

Mayo Clinic

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Paul H. Min, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

Rochester, Minnesota, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Clinical Trials Referral Office

Role: CONTACT

Phone: 855-776-0015

Email: [email protected]

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Clinical Trials Referral Office

Role: primary

Related Links

Access external resources that provide additional context or updates about the study.

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

NCI-2025-00205

Identifier Type: REGISTRY

Identifier Source: secondary_id

24-000979

Identifier Type: OTHER

Identifier Source: secondary_id

24-000979

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id