Age-Related Differences in Ocular and Cardiovascular Responses and Recovery After Graded Motor–Cognitive Physical Activity

Background/Objectives: This study examined age-related differences in ocular and cardiovascular responses to graded motor–cognitive task complexity in young and older adults. Methods: Forty-three healthy adults participated, including 21 young adults (27.1 ± 7.7 years) and 22 older adults (63.1 ± 7.8 years). Participants completed three tasks of progressively increasing motor–cognitive complexity. Intraocular pressure (IOP), ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), blood pressure, and heart rate were measured at baseline, after each task block, and at a post-task recovery assessment. Results: Significant condition effects were found for IOP (p = 0.012, η2p = 0.08), OPP (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.76), systolic blood pressure (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.51), and relative heart rate (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.40). Condition × group interactions were significant for IOP (p = 0.004, η2p = 0.09), OPP (p = 0.002, η2p = 0.10), and systolic blood pressure (p = 0.003, η2p = 0.11). Post hoc analyses showed that young adults exhibited a decrease in IOP from the first task block to recovery (p = 0.011, d = 0.35), whereas older adults showed a return toward baseline values. Relative heart rate was consistently higher in older adults across the protocol (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.29). Conclusions: Increasing motor–cognitive task complexity elicited progressive ocular and cardiovascular responses. The findings suggest that aging may influence the pattern of physiological adaptation to graded motor–cognitive load, particularly during early recovery. Concurrent assessment of ocular and cardiovascular measures may help characterize these response patterns.