All Things Considered for March 15, 2016 Hear the All Things Considered program for March 15, 2016

All Things Considered

Taking an intelligence test at the University of Maryland: In one month of brain training, former NPR correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty vastly increased her scores in intelligence tests. Courtesy of Barbara Bradley Hagerty hide caption

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Courtesy of Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Stuck In The Middle: Work, Health And Happiness At Midlife

Forget About It: Your Middle-Aged Brain Is Not On The Decline

You forget someone's name, or why you ran downstairs. Your brain is getting older, and the connections are weakening. But research shows the middle-aged brain is actually operating at its peak.

Going slow isn't necessarily the best route to ditching cigarettes. Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

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Patrik Stollarz/AFP/Getty Images

Shots - Health News

To Quit Smoking, It's Best To Go Cold Turkey

3 min

To Quit Smoking, It's Best To Go Cold Turkey

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When it comes to chronic pain relief, the CDC is asking doctors and patients to think about alternatives to opioids. Robin Nelson/Zumapress.com/Corbis hide caption

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Robin Nelson/Zumapress.com/Corbis

CDC Has Advice For Primary Care Doctors About Opioids

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Former Houston Rockets basketball player Yao Ming arrived at China's Great Hall of the People to attend the opening session of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference in Beijing on March 3. Many prominent Chinese figures take part, though delegates lack real power. Andy Wong/AP hide caption

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Andy Wong/AP

China's Legislative Session: Many Stars, But Little Power

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South Korean professional Go player Lee Sedol reviews the match with other professional Go players after the fourth match against Google's artificial intelligence program, AlphaGo. Handout/Getty Images hide caption

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Handout/Getty Images

Achievement Unlocked: Google AlphaGo A.I. Wins Go Series, 4-1

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Taking an intelligence test at the University of Maryland: In one month of brain training, former NPR correspondent Barbara Bradley Hagerty vastly increased her scores in intelligence tests. Courtesy of Barbara Bradley Hagerty hide caption

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Courtesy of Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Stuck In The Middle: Work, Health And Happiness At Midlife

Forget About It: Your Middle-Aged Brain Is Not On The Decline

8 min

Forget About It: Your Middle-Aged Brain Is Not On The Decline

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Actor Henry Godinez as the philosophy professor Oscar Amalfitano, in "Part II: The Part About Amalfitano," from the Goodman Theatre's lengthy production of 2666. Liz Lauren/Goodman Theatre hide caption

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Liz Lauren/Goodman Theatre

Have 5 Hours To Spare? See Bolaño's Epic '2666' Onstage

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All Things Considered