Motion Exposure, Cognitive Impairment, and Risk Factors for Mal De Débarquement Syndrome

Sunday, October 12, 2025

1:30 PM - 1:36 PM EDT

Location: 244

Disclosure(s):

Charlotte K. Hughes, MD, MPH:

faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Introduction: Mal de Débarquement Syndrome (MdDS) is a poorly understood vestibular condition, characterized by persistent dizziness, triggered by prolonged motion exposure. This study investigated the prevalence, risk factors, and impact of MdDS in military personnel during different voyages aboard the USNS Mercy (T-AH 19) with varying motion intensities. We analyzed the association of MdDS symptoms with cognitive performance and history of migraine and motion sickness.

Methods: Data were collected from military personnel using the MdDS calculator, DSSQ (Dizziness Simulator Sickness Questionnaire), and cognitive tests (ROC Copy/Recall Time, Stroop A-D). Motion exposure was quantified using Inertial Measurement Units (IMUs) to capture linear accelerations. Three-way ANOVA and regression modeling evaluated the relationships between motion exposure, historical risk factors, cognitive test outcomes, and MdDS symptom severity.

Results: Preliminary results indicate that rough voyages with more complex motion patterns are associated with higher DSSQ and MdDS scores, and poorer performance on the ROC test, likely linked to impairments in visuospatial processing and memory. We will conduct regression analyses using DSSQ and MdDS calculator scores as dependent variables, with mean amplitude and standard deviation as predictors, to determine how each roughness parameter independently influences psychological (DSSQ) and physiological (MdDS calculator) outcomes. A history of migraines or motion sickness appears to increase susceptibility to MdDS.

Conclusions: This study aboard the USNS Mercy provides critical insights into the mechanisms and risk factors underlying MdDS. Findings support the development of targeted prevention strategies, effective screening protocols, and evidence-based treatments for MdDS, with implications for military and civilian populations.

Presenting Author(s)

Charlotte K. Hughes, MD, MPH

Assistant Professor, Department of Otolaryngology
Naval Medical Center San Diego/UC San Diego
San Diego, CA, United States

Disclosure(s):
faculty for this accredited education activity has no relationship(s) with ineligible companies to disclose.

Co-Author(s)

JK

Jae Joon Kim, Other

UC San Diego, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Hudson Liu, B.S.

2027 MD Candidate
Georgetown University
District of Columbia, DC, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Marco A. Ayala, MD

Otolaryngolgist
California Head and Neck Specialist
San Diego, CA, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
RA

Randy E. Ashman, CRNA, DNP

Staff CRNA
Naval Medical Center San Diego
San Diego, CA, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Jong Bin Lee, MD PhD

Director/Professor, Otology & Vestibular Program, Department of ORL-HNS
Konyang University Hospital
Daejeon, Republic of Korea

Disclosure information not submitted.
AS

Ashima Saxena, MD

Shri Ashwini Saxena Hospital Rewari, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
ME

Michael J. Eliason, MD

Residency Program Director
Naval Medical Center - Portsmouth
Suffolk, VA, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.
Víctor A. de Cos, BS

2025 MD Candidate
UC San Diego School of Medicine
San Diego, California, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.

Senior Author(s)

Akihiro J. Matsuoka, MD, DMSc, PhD, FACS

Director, Balance and Vestibular Program
Department of Otolaryngology, UC San Diego Health
La Jolla, CA, United States

Disclosure information not submitted.