Memory loss and confusion are not a "natural part" of getting older. 

Aging is often accompanied by some mild loss of memory for words and names, some slowing down of mental processes, and some trouble focusing attention. But true dementia - an obvious decline in mental ability, including confusion, more than mild memory loss, and personality change - is not an inevitable part of aging.  For example, occasionally forgetting where you put the keys is not a sign of dementia; putting the keys in the refrigerator may be. 

Here are some other important early signs of dementia:

• Forgetfulness that affects work: while nearly everyone occasionally forgets names or appointments, if this happens frequently and is accompanied by confusion, it might signal a weakening of the memory.
• Problems with normal tasks, such as cooking, cleaning, dressing: it is common to forget the pot on the stove; it is less common to forget that you've cooked at all.
• Problems with words: again, it is common to have trouble finding the "right word", it is less common to forget simple words and use inappropriate fillers that make a sentence sound garbled.
• Problems with space and time, that is, knowing where you are and what time it is: we all get disoriented occasionally, but consistently getting lost in your own house is a good reason to seek medical help.
• Problems with judgment: you may normally disagree with your loved ones about what is "appropriate dress" for a specific event, but wearing a bathrobe to go shopping or three sweaters on a hot summer day is another warning sign of dementia.
• Problems with abstract thinking: many of us have trouble balancing our checkbooks, but people with dementia often can't recognize numbers or do simple arithmetic.
• Mood swings and changes in behavior: we all get mood swings, but for people with dementia they can be very sudden and seemingly inexplicable.
• Personality changes: personalities do change with advancing age, but for people with dementia these changes may be more sudden and much stronger; for example, a generally friendly, outgoing person may become cold, angry, jealous or quiet.
• Loss of initiative: while no one stays motivated constantly, people with dementia may lose all interest in their work, hobbies, friends, etc. without developing any new interests.

Some forms of dementia are temporary; others, such as that caused by Alzheimer's disease, are not.  Alzheimer's is a progressive disease that goes through three general stages called early, mid and late stage, or mild, moderate and severe.  In early-stage Alzheimer's, mood swings and the weakening of mental abilities begin to be noticeable.  People may begin to have trouble with driving, paying bills, and other tasks of daily life.

As the disease progresses, people with Alzheimer's have difficulty with simpler tasks, such as using appliances, using the telephone, and dressing. By the mid-stage, major changes in behavior develop, and people may begin to forget where they are. In the late-stage, physical problems dominate; people have trouble walking, talking, swallowing, controlling their bowels and other body functions. Eventually, the disease is fatal.

Alzheimer's, however, can take very different courses. We do not know how long it will take an individual to go through each stage; wide variations are possible. And new drugs have proven very effective in slowing the progress of the disease.