Here are some hints that might help you decide if forgetfulness is normal or if it's a sign of something more significant:
Recent memory loss that affects job performance
It's normal to occasionally forget assignments, colleagues' names or a business associate's telephone number, but generally remember them later. Those with a dementia, such as Alzheimer's Disease, might forget things more often, and not remember them later. They might ask the same question many times, not remembering the answer, or that they already asked the question.
Difficulty in performing familiar tasks
Busy people can be distracted from time to time and leave the carrots on the stove, only to remember to serve them at the end of the meal. People with Alzheimer's Disease could prepare a meal, forget to serve it, and even forget they made it.
Problems with language
Everyone has trouble finding the right word sometimes, but can finish the sentence with another appropriate word. A person with Alzheimer's Disease might forget simple words, or substitute inappropriate words, making sentences incomprehensible.
Disorientation of time and place
It's normal to forget the day of the week or your destination for a moment. But people with Alzheimer's Disease can become lost on their own street or in a familiar shopping mall, not knowing where they are, how they got there or how to get home.
Poor or decreased judgement
People can become so immersed in an activity or telephone conversation they temporarily forget the child they're watching. A person with Alzheimer's Disease could entirely forget the child and leave the house to visit a neighbor.
Problems with abstract thinking
People who normally balance their checkbooks might momentarily be disconcerted when the task is more complicated than usual, but will eventually figure out the solution. Someone with Alzheimer's Disease could forget completely what the numbers are and what needs to be done with them.
Misplacing things
Anyone can misplace a wallet or keys, but eventually find them by reconstructing where they've left them. A person with Alzheimer's Disease might put things in inappropriate places -- an iron in the freezer, or a wristwatch in the sugar bowl -- and not be able to retrieve them.
Changes in mood
Everyone has a bad day once in a while, or might become sad or moody from time to time. Someone with Alzheimer's Disease can exhibit rapid mood swings for no apparent reason: i.e. from calm to tears to anger to calm in a few minutes.
Changes in personality
People's personalities ordinarily change somewhat at different ages, as character traits strengthen or mellow. But a person with Alzheimer's Disease can change drastically, becoming extremely irritable, suspicious of fearful.
Loss of Initiative
It's normal to tire of housework, business activities or social obligations, but most people regain their initiative. The person with Alzheimer's Disease might become very passive and require cues and prompting to get them involved in activities.
Source: Alzheimer's Association, San Diego Chapter
