The other day, as I was waiting in line for my morning cup of coffee, I couldn’t help but overhear a young mother discussing her concerns about her poor memory with her friends. For me, all I had to do was see the age of the children this woman had in tow, and I immediately knew what she was experiencing—and it’s not early Alzheimer’s or dementia.

Periodic forgetfulness happens to the best of us, and for the most part it isn’t something a young, healthy adult needs to worry about. Those of us with children can probably still remember the “baby fog” that occurred when our children were born, and, if we happen to have subsequent births, the fog seemed to continue until the last child reached about ten years old. This type of memory issue is most likely due to a new parent’s lack of sleep and other temporary conditions associated with having a newborn. If you are one of the many adult children currently caring for an aging parent, the question of “what is normal and what isn’t, when it comes to forgetfulness?” can still linger.

Recently, a girlfriend of mine called to tell me that her mother had been diagnosed with early stage Alzheimer’s. While this news was quite sad for my friend’s mother and her family, my friend said that the diagnosis actually brought them a sense of relief. They felt they finally had an explanation for what had been going on with their mother, and that now they could begin making plans accordingly.

I remember about a year ago when my friend started mentioning concerns about her mother’s memory. It started with her mom having a hard time finding words during conversations, which she would describe as “getting tongue tied.” But the family started to take note when her mother began to have a hard time remembering her grandchildren’s names. About the same time, the family noted that she stopped going to her usual social gatherings, or would at times go on the wrong days.

By now we have all heard about Alzheimer’s disease, and the devastating effects it has on a person’s life. It is reported that 5.3 million Americans are currently afflicted by Alzheimer’s, and these numbers are expected to double or triple by 2050.

Dementia is the general term that is often used when referring to memory loss, and other mental changes, that are severe enough to interfere with daily life. Dementia is caused by physical changes in the brain. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, accounting for 60 to 80 percent of cases.

But, before anyone becomes overly concerned and starts worrying that they, or a loved one, may be experiencing the onset of Alzheimer’s, it is important to get evaluated by your doctor. There are actually several other medical problems that can cause memory and cognitive impairment that are treatable and reversible. These problems include depression, drug interactions, thyroid problems, excess use of alcohol, and even certain vitamin deficiencies. Reports have shown that depression and stress are the most common reasons for temporary memory problems. So an immediate work-up by a physician is a must.

The Alzheimer’s Association has a wonderful Web site that is full of information on dementia and Alzheimer’s, www.alz.org. There is a section where you can read about the ten warning signs of possible Alzheimer’s, and see a comparison to what a typical age-related change in memory looks like.

We all probably have moments when we wonder, and perhaps worry, about how our bodies and minds are going to hold up to the test of time. While it is a fact that our bodies are going to change as we age, contrary to popular belief, it is not true that memory loss is a natural part of aging.

Your short-term and remote memories aren't usually affected by aging. But your recent memory may be affected. For example, you may forget names of people you've met today, or where you set your keys. These are normal changes.

Another difference between “normal” memory problems and dementia is that normal memory loss doesn't get much worse over time. Dementia gets progressively worse, in some instances, over several months, and in other instances, over several years.

Here is a rule of thumb often used by clinicians: “If you're worried about your memory, it's probably not that serious, but if your friends and relatives are worried, then it probably is serious."

I have to admit that I had a moment of panic the other day when I opened up my dish cabinet for a glass, only to find a carton of orange juice staring at me. You can imagine my sigh of relief when my 12-year-old son confessed to having misplaced the carton. See, even young children have “senior moments.”