Mal
de Debarquement Syndrome (MdDS) is a rare disorder of perceived
movement that
most often develops following an ocean cruise, other type of water
travel, or motion experience including plane flights and train
travel. For a few, there is no known motion event; the onset
appears to be spontaneous. MdDS
persists for months to
years.
Common symptoms include
a persistent
sensation of motion
such as rocking, swaying, tumbling, and/or
bobbing. This sensation of
motion is often associated with anxiety, fatigue, difficulty
maintaining
balance, unsteadiness, and difficulty concentrating (impaired cognitive
function). Often, the motion sensation seems to disappear when
riding in the car or participating in other motion experiences.
An UCLA
research study on properties of motion perception is underway but currently placing subjects on a waiting
list. This study is focused on subjects over the age of 21 who
suffer from a motion
perception problem such as mal de debarquement or spontaneous onset of
self-motion perceptions like episodic vertigo, severe motion
sickness,
or sensitivity to visual motion. The study is also recruiting
control subjects ages 21 years and older who do not suffer from any
kind of motion sickness or motion perception problem.
Participation
will require clearing a brief screening interview over the
telephone. If qualified to enter the study, the initial study
will entail one hour and involves some questionnaires and several
computer generated visual motion tasks.
A
subset
of qualified subjects will be invited to undergo a functional MRI scan
of the brain and/or PET scan. Payment for parking and
compensation offered for all components of the study.
The
IRB number is 07-04-055. Expiration 9-10-10.
Yoon-Hee
Cha, MD
UCLA
Department of Neurology
710 Westwood Plaza Box 951769
Los Angeles, CA. 90095
Phone: 310-825-5759
Fax: 310-206-1513
This
site is
designed for those suffering from MdDS (Mal de Debarquement
Syndrome) and the health care professionals who treat them.
If you have been diagnosed or suspect that you have MdDS or
Disembarkment Syndrome, sign up for a free membership at our support
site
and review or search the thousands of
messages
from those who suffer from MdDS. There, you will find caring people
who understand what it is like to live with this rare balance
disorder; members are from all over the world. Please join us to
share and learn from others.
The
MdDS
Balance Disorder Foundation is an all-volunteer 501(c)(3)
nonprofit PA foundation dedicated to promoting awareness of Mal de
Debarquement Syndrome and seeking treatments and a cure for people
suffering from this disorder.
