Consider cultivating your programming side by working on an open source project, by helping to maintain code, implement fixes etc., in a language that you like, and don't quit your day job until you have something you want lined up. In the meanwhile, keep improving in whatever area you do research in even if it's not programming. You're memory I'm sure is not weak, but you're rusty with the specifics of that interview question, that is not a poor reflection on your character. Hang in there and work on incremental improvements in the different areas you care about.

Brian