[notfarnow]

I have a terrible memory, and noticed it affecting my day-to-day life when I was about 18-19. Very similar stuff to what you describe... forgetting names, appointments, where things are, etc. I went to a neurologist when I was 20 or so, and we did some testing and found that I did have an abnormally poor memory for my age, but he said I shouldn't be too concerned with it unless I feel it degrading.

Since then, I have put a lot of effort into working with + around my memory issues. Some things I have found over the past 15 years or so:
- a lot of it has to do with being distracted/disorganized. When I'm busy, in a rush, in a "flap" at work, I am much more likely to be forgetful. And this doesn't mean I am forgetting things that are immediately relevant... sometimes I will forget things like my postal code (zip), close friends/family names, etc.
- on the flip side, being organized hase a big impact. Every day I take 30-40 minutes just to get organized and create my to-do list and plan my day. If I start my day like that, and thoughtfully plan it out, I am not as likely to get sidetracked
- I find memory exercises very helpful. For example, if I am going to the hardware store for 5 things, I check the list before I go in and then try to remember all 5 without checking. May seem odd to you guys, but it's a real accomplishment if I manage to remember all 5.
- meditating *really* helps, more than anything else I have tried. No yoga chanting stuff, but I have some very good tapes that I listen to regularly and they are a fantastic aide, especially when I am busy and prone to being distracted

NAMES: I *need* to remember names in my business, and this has been a HUGE challenge. Someone gave me this trick, and it works . When I am introduced to someone, I always repeat their name out loud, "Hi May/Todd..." and then IMMEDIATELY associate them with someone else I know with the same name, and quickly visualize THAT person standing next to them. Works great. I can tell you the name of the carpenter who I met for 2mins when doing a house inspection last week. Danny, same name as the mechanic who works on my FIL's truck.

Anyway, hope some of this helps. I have bouts where my memory is worse than other times, it can be a real handicap and sometimes a bit frightening. I find I'm OK as long as I put the effort into managing it... not unlike a bad back.

good luck!