Older Adults (65 Years and Older)NCT07505914
Effects of Breathing Exercises on Cognition in Older Adults
A study testing Balance Training Program, Inspiratory Muscle Training and Breathing Exercise Program in people with Older Adults (65 Years and Older) and Cognition, run by Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
The goal of this interventional clinical trial is to investigate the effects of breathing exercises added to balance training on cognitive function in individuals aged 65 years and older. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Older Adults (65 Years and Older), Cognition, Balance Control in Elderly
- What is being tested?
- Balance Training Program, Inspiratory Muscle Training and Breathing Exercise Program
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 40 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 20 Mar 2026to Dec 2026
- Phase
- Interventional
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 65 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults aged 65 years and older
- Able to walk independently
- Suitable for light to moderate physical activity
- Willing and able to attend 2 sessions per week for 8 weeks
Who cannot join
- Underwent surgery within the last 6 months
- Currently participating in another structured rehabilitation program
- Neurological disorders that significantly restrict mobility (e.g., Parkinson's disease, stroke)
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Müzeyyen Keçeli Aile Sağlığı Merkezi
Istanbul
Sami Sabri Bulgurlu, 00902128035189, muzeyyenkeceliasm@gmail.com
About this study
Official title: Comparing Different Breathing Exercises Added to Balance Training on Cognitive and Functional Outcomes in Elderly Population
The goal of this interventional clinical trial is to investigate the effects of breathing exercises added to balance training on cognitive function in individuals aged 65 years and older.
The main questions it aims to answer are:
Do breathing exercises affect cognition? Do different breathing exercises affect cognition in different ways?
Researchers will administer two different breathing protocols and evaluate cognition before and after each protocol.
Participants will take part in an 8-week program consisting of sessions that include 30 minutes of balance-based exercises and 15 minutes of breathing exercises. Sessions will be held twice weekly under the supervision of a physical therapist.
- Conditions
- Older Adults (65 Years and Older), Cognition, Balance Control in Elderly, Fall Prevention in Healthy Aging
- Being tested
- Balance Training Program, Inspiratory Muscle Training, Breathing Exercise Program
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Balance Training ProgramOther
A structured balance-based exercise program (30 minutes per session) designed to reduce fall risk and improve functional performance.
Inspiratory Muscle TrainingOther
Training performed using a threshold device to strengthen inspiratory muscles for 15 minutes with intensity set individually and progressively adjusted.
Breathing Exercise ProgramOther
Breathing exercises aimed at improving lung function and respiratory health, including diaphragmatic breathing and pursed-lip breathing. Exercises will be performed for 15 minutes
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Inspiratory Muscle Training | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Balance Training Program; Other: Inspiratory Muscle Training |
| Breathing Exercises | Experimental | Not described Receives: Other: Balance Training Program; Other: Breathing Exercise Program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) is used to assess global cognitive function. The total score ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better cognitive performance.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Spirometry Parameters (FEV1, FVC, FEV1/FVC Ratio)
Spirometry will be used to assess pulmonary function, including forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and the FEV1/FVC ratio. Higher values indicate better pulmonary function.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 8 weeks
Maximal Inspiratory and Expiratory Pressures (MIP/MEP)
Respiratory muscle strength will be assessed using maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP) and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) measurements. Higher values indicate greater respiratory muscle strength.
Measured: From enrollment to the end of intervention at 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Apr 2026
- Study start20 Mar 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionDec 2026 (estimated)
- Study completionDec 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Older Adults (65 Years and Older)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Supportive care
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Care provider
- Enrolment
- 40 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Deema Almurad, Istanbul University - Cerrahpasa
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07505914
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2025/712
- Status last verified
- Mar 2026
- First submitted
- 17 Mar 2026
- Last updated
- 1 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Johannknecht M, Kayser C. The influence of the respiratory cycle on reaction times in sensory-cognitive paradigms. Sci Rep. 2022 Feb 16;12(1):2586. doi: 10.1038/s41598-022-06364-8.
PubMed 35173204Vanutelli ME, Grigis C, Lucchiari C. Breathing Right... or Left! The Effects of Unilateral Nostril Breathing on Psychological and Cognitive Wellbeing: A Pilot Study. Brain Sci. 2024 Mar 23;14(4):302. doi: 10.3390/brainsci14040302.
PubMed 38671954Song F, Ding K, Sun W, Huang Q, Jiang R, Xiang H, Sun M. Effects of 12 weeks of Head-Down Strong Abdominal Breathing Training on Gait and Cognitive Function in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis. 2025 May 1;20:1347-1359. doi: 10.2147/COPD.S514766. eCollection 2025.
PubMed 40330797Zelano C, Jiang H, Zhou G, Arora N, Schuele S, Rosenow J, Gottfried JA. Nasal Respiration Entrains Human Limbic Oscillations and Modulates Cognitive Function. J Neurosci. 2016 Dec 7;36(49):12448-12467. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.2586-16.2016.
PubMed 27927961Braendholt M, Kluger DS, Varga S, Heck DH, Gross J, Allen MG. Breathing in waves: Understanding respiratory-brain coupling as a gradient of predictive oscillations. Neurosci Biobehav Rev. 2023 Sep;152:105262. doi: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105262. Epub 2023 Jun 3.
PubMed 37271298