Is it just age or something we (my mom and i) should be worried about? my dad has been having memory problems for about 5 years now. it start off small, like forgetting to get something at the store or forgetting what tv show he was watching during commer

It : It is not normal for memory, attention, and language problems to start in the early 40's and get worse without a known cause. Causes could include severe nutritional deficiencies, hormonal or thyroid problems, psychiatric problems, effects of toxins, or degenerative brain diseases. Seeing a primary care doctor is the first step to getting answers.

You : You have described that your 48 year old father not only has progressive problems with memory (and seems to be unaware of them) but also that he has problems finding the "right words", what we phyisicians would label as an "aphasia". This is quite worrisome for a serious dementing illness, such as early-onset alzheimer's disease, a frontotemporal dementia, or similar problem. Sometimes, this can be due to a treatable problem: depression, hypothyroidism, a vitamin deficiency. Only a very thorough workup by a neurologist can assign anything close to an accurate diagnosis and determine if there is a treatable problem. Your father should go to see a neurologist, probably one who specializes in the analysis and treatment of dementing disorders. As you are in colorado springs, i would recommend making an appointment at the university of colorado medical center in denver, where they likely have a dementia clinic.