Simple memory lapses are normal, though forgetting one's keys can raise the specter of dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. Thankfully, most memory lapses are normal.

With the aging of America many people are worried about losing mental faculties through dementia and Alzheimer's Disease. It is sad to watch a beloved parent or relative lose mental acuity. It is frightening to realize that there is no cure for loss of mind power and to imagine ourselves with diminished intellect.

Forgetting one's keys or having difficulty putting a name to a familiar face can be frightening because we associate that with the more serious forms of dementia.

But simple memory loss does not foretell the onset of dementia or Alzheimer's. In fact, there is no valid predictor as yet. Happily, there is mounting evidence that advancing age does not guarantee declining mental abilities. link.

The following chart, adapted from the November, 2006 Consumer Reports on Health provides specific examples of normal memory lapse as contrasted with early warning signs of dementia.

• Normal Memory Lapses
  • Unable to locate keys
  • Forgetting a name
  • Check book errors
  • Occasional unwise decisions
  • Forgetting which day of the week it is
  • Struggling to find the right word
  • Entering a room and forgetting why you came

• Warning Signs of Dementia
  • Keys are in an unusual place, such as the freezer
  • Repeatedly asking the same question, forgetting the answer each time
  • Wondering what a check book is and how it's used
  • Irrational choices, such as going barefoot in the snow
  • Difficulty finding the way to a once-familiar location
  • Combining words in unusual and confusing ways
  • Difficulty performing once-familiar tasks, such as dressing or cooking

This chart is not exhaustive nor is it intended as a diagnostic aide. See your physician for clarification and diagnosis.

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