MdDS (Medical Débarquement Syndrome)

What is MdDS anyway?

Medical Débarquement Syndrome, or MdDS for short, is a rare neurological disorder in which people experience a persistent sensation of movement, as if they are constantly rocking, swaying, or swaying—even when standing still.

It usually occurs after a period of passive movement, such as a boat trip, flight, or long car ride. Normally, this disappears after a short time, but with MdDS, the sensation can persist for months or even years.

A striking characteristic is that many people feel temporarily better during passive movement—for example, in a car—but as soon as they stop, the symptoms often return.

Who gets MdDS?

Although it is difficult to provide precise figures, MdDS appears to occur mainly in women between the ages of 30 and 60. The high female prevalence is confirmed, but it is suspected that men are also affected more often than previously known.

What's happening in your brain?

Researchers believe that MdDS is caused by neuroplastic changes in your balance system. Simply put, the brain "learns" an incorrect movement pattern—like an internal wobble rhythm—that isn't switched off in time.

A key mechanism is velocity storage: a part of the balance system that helps the brain temporarily maintain movement in space for better orientation. In MdDS, this mechanism is disrupted.

Diagnosis: How do we know if it's MdDS?

There is no specific test for MdDS. Doctors first rule out other causes, such as inner ear problems or neurological disorders. The diagnosis is therefore primarily made clinically, based on the characteristic pattern of symptoms and the typical "improvement with movement."

Many patients see several doctors before receiving the correct diagnosis—sometimes up to 20 consultations.

Treatment: What works (so far)?

1. Vestibular rehabilitation (balance exercises): often ineffective in MdDS. 2. Medications such as benzodiazepines (e.g., clonazepam) or migraine medications may help some people, but they are not a long-term solution and carry the risk of dependency.
3. Neuromodulation: Techniques such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) sometimes show improvement, but the effect is often temporary.
4. VOR readaptation (optokinetic stimulation): One of the most promising approaches focuses on restoring velocity storage to normal. This involves combining visual movements with specific head movements. In approximately 70% of patients, this leads to significant symptom relief.
5. Galvanic Vestibular Stimulation (GVS): A small pilot study showed positive results, particularly when using noisy stimulation at approximately 70% of the perceptual threshold. Patients reported improvements in balance and emotional well-being—without worsening symptoms. 6. Future studies with VR: Large-scale trials (200 patients) are currently underway using VR technology to make VOR readaptation more available. These trials will also combine techniques to better address visual sensitivity and the gravitational pull.

In plain language:

• MdDS is not an acquired disease, but a difficult-to-recognize "persistent sensation of movement," which often begins after travel.
• It occurs primarily in women, and the symptoms can be very disruptive—both physically and emotionally.
• Because the symptoms are complex and no standard test is available, it often takes a long time to receive a correct diagnosis.
• Complete recovery is still rare. But treatment with brain and balance-stimulating methods such as VOR readaptation or GVS offers many people real relief for the first time.
• New research with VR could soon make this easier and more accessible to more patients.

MdDS is a particularly challenging condition, but recent research offers hope — especially as we gain a better understanding of how the brain's balance system works and how we can influence it.