Is misplacing your keys a normal part of aging or could it be a symptom of Alzheimer's disease?

Problems with memory may be due to a variety of factors. It is normal for people of all ages occasionally to forget names, appointments, or the location of objects like their keys. Such memory problems may result from stress, distractions, grief, fatigue, poor vision or hearing, use of alcohol, an illness, or trying to remember too many details at once.

Clinical depression also may cause poor concentration, sleep disturbance, or other symptoms that lead to forgetfulness in people who do not have Alzheimer's disease. A decline in short-term memory that sometimes accompanies aging is called age-associated memory loss and does not lead to Alzheimer's disease.

People with early-stage Alzheimer's disease often experience forgetfulness. They may have constant trouble remembering recent events, activities, or the names of familiar people or things. Memory loss that is associated with Alzheimer's disease interferes with activities of daily living.