Alteration in Mental Status
Check your symptoms and
find possible causes with AI for free
Reviewed By:
Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)
Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Please choose the symptom you are most concerned about.
It will help us optimise further questions for you.
By starting the symptom checker, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
Find another symptom
How Ubie can help you
With an easy 3-min questionnaire, Ubie's AI-powered system will generate a free report on possible causes.
Your symptoms
Our AI
Your report
Personalized Report
✔︎  When to see a doctor
✔︎  What causes your symptoms
✔︎  Treatment information etc.
People with these symptoms also use Ubie's symptom checker to find possible causes
Doesn't know where he/she is
Doesn't know who he/she is
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Learn More
Content updated on Jan 4, 2023
About the symptom
Altered mental status is when the brain doesn't function normally. This includes confused thinking, reduced awareness, disorientation, and drowsiness. There are many causes, including infection, blood sugar changes, and dehydration.
When to see a doctor
Seek professional care if you experience any of the following symptoms
Recent changes in mental state
Possible causes
- Dissociative disorder
Dissociative disorder is mental disorder that involve experiencing a disconnection and lack of continuity between thoughts, memories, surroundings, actions and identity. People with dissociative disorder escape reality in ways that are involuntary and unhealthy and cause problems with functioning in everyday life.
- Alzheimer dementia (AD)
Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia. The brain shrinks affecting memory and behavior. Symptoms worsen over time, and can interfere with daily life. Increasing age increases the risk for Alzheimer dementia.
- Anorexia nervosa / bulimia nervosa
A condition where there is abnormal fear of gaining weight. Patients try to lose weight excessively through fasting, inducing vomiting, or excessive exercise.
- Mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
- Cushing syndrome
- Alcohol dependence / delirium tremens
Related serious diseases
- Uremia / chronic renal failure
Severe decrease in kidney function. There are many causes of this, from repeated damage due to infections, diabetes, high blood pressure to autoimmunity (body's immune system attacking itself).
- Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
- Epilepsy
- Chronic subdural hematoma
Questions your doctor may ask about this symptom
Your doctor may ask these questions to check for this symptom
Recently, are you more confused than before?
Do you feel fatigued?
Do you have difficulty sleeping (Insomnia)?
Do you have less or no appetite, therefore eat less food?
Do you feel tired almost every day and unmotivated to do anything?
Other Related Symptoms
Similar symptoms or complaints
Symptoms from the same body system / part
Symptoms treated by the same specialty
Reviewed By:
Bret Mobley, MD, MS (Neuropathology)
Dr. Mobley graduated from the University of Michigan Medical School, completing a masters degree in neuroscience between his second and third years of medical school. He trained as a resident in pathology at Stanford University Hospital before joining the faculty of Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville Tennessee in 2010. He was promoted to Associate Professor in 2018 and to Neuropathology Division Director in 2020.
Shohei Harase, MD (Neurology)
Dr. Harase spent his junior and senior high school years in Finland and the U.S. After graduating from the University of Washington (Bachelor of Science, Molecular and Cellular Biology), he worked for Apple Japan Inc. before entering the University of the Ryukyus School of Medicine. He completed his residency at Okinawa Prefectural Chubu Hospital, where he received the Best Resident Award in 2016 and 2017. In 2021, he joined the Department of Cerebrovascular Medicine at the National Cerebral and Cardiovascular Center, specializing in hyperacute stroke.
Just 3 minutes.
Developed by doctors.
Ubie is supervised by 50+ medical experts worldwide
Seiji Kanazawa, MD, PHD
Obstetrics and gynecology (OBGYN)
National Center for Child Health and Development, Japan