Using breathing exercises to improve brain health in serious illnesses

This trial is testing whether guided breathing exercises—practiced daily through a mobile app with optional online or in-person instructor sessions—can improve brain blood flow, oxygen delivery, and mental well-being in people living with cancer or multiple sclerosis. Researchers will compare people who practice breathing exercises to those who do walking exercises, and will use MRI scans to measure changes in the brain over 4 to 6 months. The goal is to see if this breathing practice becomes a practical tool patients and caregivers can use alongside medical treatment.

Cancer and neurological diseases like multiple sclerosis often cause severe fatigue, brain fog, anxiety, and depression that current treatments don't fully address. This study explores whether simple, accessible breathing techniques might improve blood flow and oxygen delivery to the brain, potentially easing these symptoms and supporting mental health alongside standard medical care.