Many people believe that when you get old, you start to forget. There are many reasons an older person may forget, as there are reasons a younger person forgets.
Memory loss is frequently a part of dementia.
The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer's Disease. Alzheimer's disease is a progressive, degenerative disease that attacks the brain and results in impaired memory, thinking and behavior. It affects some 4 million adults and is the most common form of dementing illness. Other causes may be medication, alcohol abuse, strokes, and Parkinson's Disease. Dementia is not a disease, but a group of symptoms of certain diseases or medical conditions.