MoCA-screen-positive status differs across intraocular pressure subtypes of primary open-angle glaucoma

This study examined cognitive changes in 93 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma, including 49 with normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) and 44 with high-tension glaucoma (HTG). Cognitive impairment detected by the MoCA test occurred in 47.3% of participants and was significantly more frequent in the NTG group (59.2%) than in the HTG group (34.1%). This association remained significant even after adjustment for multiple factors including visual, vascular, and metabolic parameters. On a vision-reduced MoCA test without visually dependent tasks, scores were lower in the NTG group. In the NTG group, cognitive impairment was associated with lower blood pressure, higher sleep disturbance index, and thinner retinal nerve fiber layer. The results suggest that NTG is associated with higher frequency of cognitive impairment; however, the authors emphasize the need for further prospective research to confirm these findings.