If you have been a forgetful type all your life, what are the signs that it's no longer just forgetfulness, it is the onset of dementia?

I was a forgetful kid who forgot to develop a better memory as I grew into an adult. I can put something down in a moment of distraction and end up searching the house like Sherlock Holmes to figure out where I was and where I left my keys, or sunglasses, or cell phone. All my adult life, I have occasionally been talking and reached for a word, and mid-sentence realized it wasn’t there in ready memory. It might have been a simple enough word, one I know as well as my own name, but it wouldn’t jump into the forefront of memory. I knew the meaning I wanted to express, but just had to substitute a different and perhaps less precise word. Hours later, the word I wanted will suddenly pop into my mind uninvited, too late for the party.

The same goes for names. I am pretty good with famous scientists and philosophers, because those subjects truly interest me. But actors, screenwriters, producers, directors. They float in and out of memory routinely, and remembering a particular one from a particular film may take days. Google is far more efficient. I’ve always been that way.

On the other hand, I know the SSNs for myself, my wife and my son. I know my Mastercard number and the 3 digit code. I know several dozen user name/password combinations, some of them using strong passwords with meaningless strings of numbers and letters in upper and lower case. I even remember my Navy service number from over 45 years ago.

So being forgetful in certain areas to begin with, how will I know if the first stages of Alzheimer’s or some other form of dementia are creeping up on me. What sort of forgetfulness is a certain sign? Don’t worry, I’ll keep a copy of the answers where I can refer to them in case I forget what you said.

I’m pretty sure I’m not there yet. At least I don’t remember any unusual forgetfulness. But I would like to see the warning signs if they do loom, and get to the doctor to see if the onset can be delayed. Stealing our sexiness, our looks, even our loved ones I can live with; painful though it is. But stealing our memories is the dirtiest trick of Father Time. That even steals the little we have left of now departed loved ones away from us.