There are some very basic warning signs that anyone concerned about dementia or memory loss should look for. Ask yourself the following questions and report the results to your health-care provider.

Do you frequently misplace objects?
Do you have difficulty performing complex tasks that require a series of actions (such as cooking)?
Are you increasingly unable to respond effectively to problems at home or work?
Do you have difficulty with orientation or spatial relationships?
Do you have trouble driving that you did not have before?
Do you find that you are often unable to find the right words to express your thoughts?
Do you have difficulty conversing or following conversation?
Has your behavior changed? For example, do you feel more irritable and/or aggressive?
Have you become disassociated or indifferent to what is happening around you?

If you answered yes to these questions, or if those around you have seen changes in your behavior, it is important that you see a health-care provider. Early diagnosis is always important when coping with dementia. If dementia is caught early, there are more treatment options that your health-care provider can review with you. It also may be that some of your memory loss is just a normal part of aging; your health-care provider will be able to differentiate between normal, age-related memory loss and dementia. Because of the nature of memory loss, you might have to rely on others, like your friends, a health-care professional or your primary-care physician to let you know if you exhibit any of the symptoms listed above.