What is the difference between dementia and forgetfulness?

Though the two might seem similar there are key differences. Forgetfulness is common with age and it's normal to forget things like where you put the keys or forgetting to call someone. Dementia, on the other hand, is characterized by serious memory problems that significantly affect a person's quality of life. People with this condition often also experience loss of cognitive functioning, problems with language skills, and some even experience personality changes.