Can Breathing Exercises Reduce the Risk of Alzheimer’s?

New study finds daily breathwork techniques can lower protein peptide levels linked to dementia

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Simple breathing exercises have long been associated with stress and anxiety reduction. But new research suggests that implementing breathwork into one’s daily routine may also reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The study, conducted at the University of Southern California and published in Nature Scientific Reports, concluded that adults of all ages can reduce the levels of amyloid-beta peptides in their bloodstream through daily breathing exercises. Increased levels of amyloid-beta peptides in the blood are a known contributor to Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Study Findings Explained

The study began with a few basic questions surrounding beta-amyloid peptide production, its clearance within the body, and why amyloid plaques develop in the brain, particularly in older adults. The researchers specifically wanted to know how the clearance of amyloid-beta peptides could be inhibited or encouraged within the brain and central nervous system.