It happens to all of us from time to time. You cannot remember where you put the keys you were holding in your hand just fifteen minutes earlier. You were just introduced to three people, and you forgot their names almost immediately. Such incidents are common to most people, but worrying for some.
             Middle-aged people are more likely to look anxiously on these lapses in memory as signs of aging and loss of faculties. Some fear they are early symptoms of Alzheimer's disease, the incurable affliction of many elderly people that causes drastic memory loss.
             However, scientific research seems to suggest that the slowing down and gradual loss of memory function is not necessarily an indicator of senility. A lot of time and money have gone into memory studies in recent years. We are learning more and more about how and where memories take shape-the first step in preventing their loss.
             The formation of memories seems to involve different parts of the brain working together. One area known to be crucial is the hippocampus, which is named due to its shape after the Latin word for "seahorse." The hippocampus is located near the bottom of the brain, and is probably where most memories are formed.
             Studies on animals have shown that the hippocampus compiles a detailed impression of a moment in time by linking different pieces of information. What is not known for certain is whether this part of the brain is the initial site of memory information or just a temporary storage point.
             People who suffer damage to the hippocampus, especially those with Alzheimer's, lose the ability to hold on to new impressions. This results in a reduction in the effectiveness of their short-term memory. Older memories are less affected, however, suggesting that impressions are moved to other parts of the brain for long-term storage.
             Is there anything that healthy people can do to improve their memory, or at least slow down its decline? There are ...