Physical Activity Is Associated with Improved Visuomotor Processing in Older Adults with Moderate and Advanced Glaucomatous Visual Field Defect: A Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Glaucoma affects a wide spectrum of daily essential activities in older adults. This study examined whether older adults with moderate and advanced stages of glaucoma exhibit differences in visuomotor task performance compared with age- and gender-matched ophthalmologically healthy control subjects and estimated the effects of physical activity (PA) levels, age, and severity of visual impairment on patients’ visuomotor task performance. Sixty older adults with moderate glaucoma, advanced glaucoma, and normal sight participated in the study. Visuomotor processing was assessed using laboratory-based simple and complex visuomotor reaction tasks. Monocular Humphrey Visual Field and binocular Humphrey Esterman Visual Field tests were used to estimate visual field defect severity. The International Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess PA levels. Participants with glaucoma had poorer scores in visuomotor tasks compared to participants with normal sight. Glaucoma patients’ PA levels, age, and binocular visual field defect explained 54% of the variation in complex reaction time. Low PA levels were identified as a risk factor for visuomotor processing decline. Compensatory mechanisms to improve the efficiency of visual field scanning in patients with more severe visual field defects may exist.

Machine learning analysis reveals abnormal functional network hubs in the primary angle-closure glaucoma patients

“…Using diffusion tensor MRI, Yang et al (2018) demonstrated that glaucomatous mice had extensive deterioration of visuomotor function by 9 months of age. Zwierko et al (2022) reported differences in visuomotor task performance among older adults with moderate and advanced glaucoma. Dive et al (2016) demonstrated visuomotor behavior in patients with glaucoma-related peripheral field reduction during the completion of natural movements.…”

Altered static and dynamic functional network connectivity in primary angle-closure glaucoma patients

“…Structurally, patients with glaucoma exhibit white matter tract damage far beyond visual pathway localization 34 . Functionally, PACG patients show visual dysfunction and vision-related cortex dysfunction 35 , 36 . These studies suggest that PACG patients have abnormalities in their visual networks, both structurally and functionally.…”

Altered static and dynamic functional network connectivity in Primary angle-closure glaucoma patients

“…Structurally, mice with glaucoma, characterized by heightened intraocular pressure, exhibited reduced fractional anisotropy and heightened radial diffusivity in the optic nerves and tract 34 . Functionally, PACG patients show visual dysfunction and vision-related cortex dysfunction 35,36 . These studies suggest that PACG patients have abnormalities in their visual networks, both structurally and functionally.…”