Confusion
Gallstones are small, hard deposits that form in the gallbladder. A buildup of cholesterol and bile acids causes them. While they’re not fatal, they can cause serious problems if they move out of the gallbladder and into the bile ducts or pancreatic duct, particularly to the central nervous system.
A less common symptom is mental confusion, which may occur due to a blockage of bile flow. The liver secretes bile into the small intestine when it receives glucose from the body’s digested food. Still, if there are existing gallbladder stones, this flow may be blocked, causing some of this highly concentrated bile to get reabsorbed by the liver. If enough bile gets pulled back into the liver, it can cause damage and trigger symptoms like mental confusion.
