IT STARTS OUT SLOWLY, almost imperceptibly. The misplaced keys. The forgotten birthday or anniversary. Using the wrong word or losing the thread in mid-conversation. These are often dismissed as typical signs of aging, but in some people, they may be the earliest signs that something bigger is at work – the development of dementia or Alzheimer's disease. When a doctor diagnoses dementia or Alzheimer's in your loved one, you should be sure to ask a lot of questions to make sure you understand your loved one's current state of being and so you can appropriately prepare for how this progressive disease could change over time.