Memory loss, also referred to as amnesia, is an abnormal degree of forgetfulness and/or inability to recall past events. Depending on the cause, memory loss may have either a sudden or gradual onset, and memory loss may be permanent or temporary. Memory loss may be limited to the inability to recall recent events, events from the distant past, or a combination of both. Although the normal aging process can result in difficulty in learning and retaining new material, normal aging itself is not a cause of significant memory loss unless there is accompanying disease that is responsible for the memory loss.

Symptoms:

*  The individual may ask or inquire about the same thing repeatedly.

*  The individual may at times find it tough to express himself, with problems finding the right words to use.

*  The individual may not be able to perform a familiar task despite the fact that he or she may have performed that very same task previously on numerous occasions without any flaws.

*  The individual may also display symptoms that are easy to mistake and regard as absent mindedness. For example the person may misplace items and often place them in inappropriate places, such as storing a wallet in the freezer.

*  Another alarming sign is that the individual may get lost while in familiar areas or in their own neighborhood.

*  The individual may also experience mood or behavioral changes for no apparent reason.