<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Greg Sandoval/Business Insider</span></p><p class="caption">Google CEO Sundar Pichai</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>Google is struggling to add blacks and Latinos to the company's employee ranks, according to its annual report on diversity.</strong></li><li><strong>Part of the trouble is that the blacks and Latinos they do hire don't tend to stick around.</strong></li><li><strong>Google saw some progress in the company's management ranks. In four years, the number of women in leadership roles has risen from  20.8% to 25.5%.</strong></li></ul><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you're a black or a Latino software engineer, now might be a good time to file your resume with Google.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Not only is the search giant struggling to add workers from those groups to its ranks but it also faring poorly at keeping them around, according to Google's annual diversity <a href="https://diversity.google/annual-report/">report released Thursday</a>.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Google and the rest of the technology sector are trying to shed their reputations for not being inclusive. In the case of Google, the company at minimum deserves points for transparency, as managers each year reveal how they're progressing at hiring more women and workers from minority groups. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Still, in many areas the numbers show little if any progress. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Blacks make up 2.5% of Google's US workforce, up from 2.4% the year before. The percentage of Latinos barely moved, from 3.5% to 3.6% (Google said it chose the term to use the Latinx because it describes all people from Latin American, including Brazilians who are not Hispanic, as well as people of all genders). </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Women made up 30.8% a year ago and are now at 30.9 percent.</span></p><h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">A worrisome brain drain</span></h2><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For blacks and Latinos, things appear even worse when considering attrition rates, a data point that Google added for the first time this year. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Blacks have the highest attrition of any of the ethnic groups listed by Google, with a weighted index rating of 127 (100 is the company's overall attrition rate). Latinos were the next highest at 115.</span></p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Google</span></p><p class="caption">Screen shot of Google diversity report</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Google wrote in the report, "</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Black Googler attrition rates, while improving in recent years, have offset some of our hiring gains, which has led to smaller increases in representation than we would have seen otherwise." </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This was "a clear low light," said Danielle Brown, Google vice president of Diversity and Inclusion, of the attrition rates in an<a href="https://techcrunch.com/"> interview with TechCrunch</a>. "That's an area where we're going to be laser-focused."</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The attrition rates for Whites came in at 108 while Asians possessed the lowest rate with 83. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Google did make headway from last year when it came to the management ranks. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over the past few years, the number of women in leadership roles globally has risen from 20.8% to 25.5%. Though that leaves plenty of room for progress. </span></p><h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Google's "solution" for minority attrition rates is facing a big problem</span></h2><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ1JeII0eGo">YouTube/Joe Rogan Experience</a></span></p><p class="caption">James Damore</p></div><p></p></div></div>Google's struggle creating a diverse workforce is hardly unique in Silicon Valley, with companies such as Facebook, Apple and Microsoft all similarly underrepresented when it comes to women and minorities. </p><p>In its report, Google offers some thoughts on how to address the attrition rate:</p><p><span>"Based on employee surveys, we have learned that feeling included is associated with lower attrition for all employees, especially people of color. So we are accelerating efforts to ensure all Googlers-and in particular those from underrepresented groups-experience Google as an inclusive workplace," the report says. <br /></span></p><p><span>But that goal might be tougher than expected given some of the recent events at Google.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Google's efforts to create a diverse workplace became a lightning rod earlier this year after an internal debate about diversity issues exploded in public, landing Google on the frontlines of the country's culture wars. </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Former Google employee James Damore, who famously suggested that women weren't genetically equipped to be great engineers, was<a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/google-ceo-sundar-pichai-memo-writer-james-damore-wasnt-fired-for-politics-2018-1"> fired </a>for violating company policy. </span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Damore later filed suit, saying Google <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fired-google-memo-engineer-james-damore-is-suing-2018-1">discriminated against white</a> male employees as well as conservatives.</span></p><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The incident highlighted a tricky tension between Google's commitment to gender and ethnic diversity and its commitment to free expression and debate. Damore is no longer at the company, but it's not clear if the issue is resolved.</span></p> <p class="tagline">Get the latest Google stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/GOOG-Quote"> here.</a></p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/oneplus-6-android-smartphone-review-2018-5">This $530 Android phone is half the price of an iPhone X and just as good</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Google revealed new info about its workforce, and it shows a big retention problem that could inflame the company's culture war

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6354802" type="DEFINITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="depression">Depression</keyword> is a mood disorder where you'll likely experience a lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed, changes in sleep or appetite, and difficulty thinking or concentrating. </li><li>While you'll need to see a doctor for a true diagnosis, you can take our depression quiz to gauge your symptoms and determine the next steps that are appropriate for you. </li><li>Overall, most patients can treat their depression and reduce symptoms with a combination of lifestyle changes, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and medication. </li><li>This article <a href="https://www.insider.com/insider-medical-review-board">was medically reviewed</a> by Alex Dimitriu, MD, psychiatrist and founder of <a href="https://siliconpsych.com/">Menlo Park Psychiatry and Sleep Medicine</a>. </li><li><a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Visit Insider's Health Reference library for more advice.</a></li></ul><p>Depression is one of the most common <keyword id="6354774" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="60" keywordseo="Mental-health">mental health</keyword> issues in the world, affecting more than<a href="https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-disorders"> 264 million people</a> globally. </p><p>Yet, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3698814/">data </a>from the American Public <keyword id="6354750" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="health">Health</keyword> Association shows that up to 70% of people worldwide don't seek help for mental health conditions due to stigma, lack of information, and lack of access to treatment. </p><p>If you or someone you know might have depression, you can get immediate help from Samaritans hotlines <a href="http://www.samaritansusa.org/index.php">here</a>. In this article, we discuss signs, symptoms, and treatment options for depression, as well as a science-backed quiz. </p><h2>What is depression? </h2><p>Depression, also known as major depressive disorder (MDD) or clinical depression, is a medical condition that's different from feelings of sadness.  </p><p>If you're sad, there is usually a cause, such as <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-are-the-stages-of-grief">grief</a> or a bad day at work. These feelings are mainly related to the specific situation that caused them, and should be resolved in time. You'll often be able to make yourself feel better — perhaps by talking about your feelings with a friend or blowing off steam through an activity you enjoy. </p><p>But if you're <keyword id="6423701" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="depressed">depressed</keyword>, you'll likely experience a gradual onset of symptoms, such as a lack of interest in activities you once enjoyed, changes in sleep and appetite, and difficulty thinking and concentrating. </p><p>These symptoms will generally have a significant negative impact on daily life for at least two weeks. While depression can be triggered by a variety of specific situations, it's commonly caused by genetic factors. </p><p>"Often when someone is depressed, they have a history of depression, bipolar, or a mood disorder in the family," says <a href="https://sheilajosephson.com/">Sheila Josephson, </a>Ph.D., a psychotherapist and clinical social worker.</p><h2>Quiz: Do you have depression?</h2><p><strong>Methodology:</strong> This quiz is based on the <a href="http://www.medicaidmentalhealth.org/_assets/file/Guidelines/2017-2018%20Treatment%20of%20Adult%20Major%20Depressive%20Disorder.pdf">DSM-5 criteria</a> for major depressive disorder, as well as the <a href="http://med.stanford.edu/fastlab/research/imapp/msrs/_jcr_content/main/accordion/accordion_content3/download_256324296/file.res/PHQ9%20id%20date%2008.03.pdf">patient health questionnaire</a> (PHQ-9) that medical professionals use to screen patients with depressive symptoms. </p><p><strong>Editor's note:</strong> The results of this quiz should not be read as a diagnosis. To truly diagnose depression, a doctor must also determine whether depressive feelings could be caused by normal bereavement or loss, another mental or physical disorder, and medication or other drugs.  </p><h2>Signs of depression </h2><p>Typically, the major symptoms of depression are: </p><ul><li>A constantly low mood</li><li>Loss of enjoyment or interest in activities</li><li>Change in appetite</li><li>Insomnia, restless sleeping, or oversleeping</li><li>Fatigue and tiredness</li><li>Feelings of worthlessness or guilt</li><li>Difficulty in concentrating, making decisions, or memory</li><li>Thoughts of suicide</li></ul><p>Depression can have physical symptoms, too, such as fatigue or unexplained body aches and pains. This can often imitate other illnesses, like thyroid conditions or a <a href="https://www.insider.com/vitamin-d-depression">Vitamin D deficiency</a>. </p><p>If you're experiencing any of these symptoms, reach out to a care provider — whether a primary care doctor or a mental health specialist. Then, you'll undergo a more thorough evaluation before a diagnosis of depression is given. </p><p>"That should include a physical exam and often some lab work," says <a href="https://adaa.org/about-adaa/people/board-directors/beth-salcedo">Beth Salcedo</a>, MD, former president at The Anxiety and Depression Association of America. "It would involve a lengthy discussion of symptoms and past medical and mental health history, along with family history."</p><h2>How to deal with depression </h2><p>If you think you might have depression, it's important to seek help from a licensed health professional. A therapist, counselor, or your primary care doctor is a perfect place to start. </p><p>For those unable to access these medical practitioners or experiencing milder symptoms, <a href="https://www.insider.com/best-online-therapy">online therapy</a> platforms like <a href="https://www.betterhelp.com/">BetterHelp</a> or <a href="https://www.talkspace.com/">TalkSpace</a> offer an alternative solution. </p><p>If you need immediate help or have had thoughts of harming yourself or others, <a href="http://www.samaritansusa.org/">Samaritans</a> have a globally accessible suicide prevention hotline in 38 countries.</p><p>And if you're worried about a friend or family member, Josephson recommends talking to them in a non-judgemental way about different options for care. </p><p>"When you have that conversation, don't place blame: be positive, and remind them how much you care for them," she says. </p><h2>Treatment </h2><p>Along with therapy and medication, there are a few common lifestyle changes that anyone can use to improve their mental health and help relieve depressive symptoms: </p><h3><strong>Eat healthy</strong></h3><p><a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00936/full">Good nutrition</a> is vital for keeping your body chemically and hormonally balanced. </p><p>Make sure you avoid or limit sugar and caffeine consumption, which can cause abrupt mood swings. Instead, incorporate more fruits and vegetables <a href="https://www.insider.com/foods-that-battle-depression">into your diet</a>, along with oily fish and lean protein. </p><p>If you're looking for an eating plan to try, <a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-mediterranean-diet">the Mediterranean diet</a> is touted by dietitians and may have mental health benefits.  </p><h3><strong>Avoid alcohol and drugs</strong> </h3><p>For those experiencing depression, it's common to turn to alcohol and drugs for relief. However, alcohol is a<a href="https://www.addictioncenter.com/alcohol/is-alcohol-a-depressant/"> depressant</a>, which will ultimately exacerbate depressive symptoms.</p><p>Many drugs also increase the risk of psychosis or depression through their<a href="https://www.helpguide.org/articles/addictions/substance-abuse-and-mental-health.htm"> interaction with the nervous system</a>.</p><h3><strong>Stay active</strong></h3><p>Exercise releases neurotransmitters and hormones like endorphins, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin, which <a href="https://www.insider.com/exercise-for-depression">boost and enhance your mood</a>.</p><p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27765659">A 2016 meta-study</a> of over one million people found that exercise significantly improves mental health — dividing the sample into three sections, the least fit group were 75% more likely to have depression than the fittest group. </p><p>And it doesn't need to be traditional exercise like running. A<a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00936/full"> 2019 meta-study</a> on dance movement therapy (DMT) found that it was an effective remedy for depression in adults, for its combined exercise and social benefits.</p><h3><strong>Get enough sleep </strong></h3><p>There is a strong correlation between sleeping troubles and depression, and <a href="https://www.insider.com/can-depression-cause-insomnia">insomnia</a> is closely related to depression.<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3108260/"> </a></p><p><a href="https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/depression-and-sleep-problems-how-improve-without">Good sleep hygiene</a>, such as not looking at phone, TV, or laptop screens an hour before bed — and instead creating a relaxing evening routine — can help improve sleep quality. </p><p>For example, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3108260/">a 2008 review</a> noted multiple studies that found treating sleep and insomnia correlated significantly with improved depressive symptoms.<a href="https://adaa.org/learn-from-us/from-the-experts/blog-posts/depression-and-sleep-problems-how-improve-without"> </a></p><h3><strong>Mindfulness meditation </strong> </h3><p>Meditation has been proven to significantly improve the symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression.<a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/meditation_for_anxiety_and_depression"> </a></p><p>For example, <a href="https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/media/releases/meditation_for_anxiety_and_depression">a 2014 meta-review at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine</a> found 30 to 40 minutes of daily meditation in an eight-week mindfulness meditation program improved those with mild depressive symptoms.</p><p>Starting with 5 or 10 minutes of mindfulness meditation can be an important way to strengthen mental health — and here's a guide for <a href="https://www.insider.com/how-to-meditate">how to meditate</a> on your own. </p><h2>Therapy </h2><p>Psychotherapy is a common treatment for depression. According to Salcedo, types of therapy for depression usually include:  </p><ul><li>Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) </li><li>Acceptance and Commitment Therapy</li><li>Interpersonal Psychotherapy for Depression</li></ul><p>CBT is one of the most effective talk therapies. It helps patients relearn the way they think by challenging negative thoughts, particularly when it comes to feelings of self-worth: the therapy follows the theory that if <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2933381/">negative thinking</a> is corrected and replaced with positive thinking, the symptoms of depression will be lessened. </p><p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5797481/">A 2018 paper</a> referred to CBT as the "gold standard of psychotherapy" — as it is currently the most widely studied and proven type of therapy. In fact, <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2748674/">one 2009 study</a> found that cognitive therapies could be as effective as medication, and even have longer-lasting effects.</p><p>However, therapies for depression are not one-size-fits-all, and a combination of multiple types of treatment will likely be needed. </p><p>"Which is most effective depends on many factors, including the availability of therapies and compliance on the part of the patient," says Salcedo. "All have shown themselves to be highly effective though, and sometimes in combination."  </p><h2>Medication </h2><p>Medication can also be an<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361016/"> effective treatment</a> for depression, usually in addition to therapy. That's because depression is thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the body, and antidepressants help to combat this imbalance. </p><p>According to Salcedo the most commonly prescribed antidepressants are called SSRIs, or selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. </p><p>Examples of SSRIs include: </p><ul><li>Zoloft</li><li>Prozac</li><li>Lexapro </li><li>Paxil </li><li>Luvox</li></ul><p>Medication is used to help patients get the most out of their therapy, says Salcedo, particularly when their symptoms are severe and debilitating. </p><p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK361016/">Studies</a> have found that SSRIs, along with SSNRIs, a similar class of medication, are the most effective antidepressants. In fact, between 40 to 60% of people who took these medications experienced improvement in moderate to severe depressive symptoms.</p><p>Antidepressants are typically taken for one or two years, depending on the severity of symptoms. Josephson notes that those who commit to their prescribed medication and therapy can expect positive results, but that if patients come off their medication too early, depressive episodes can become a recurrent problem. </p><h2>The bottom line</h2><p>If you think you may be depressed, it's important to talk it over with a doctor. Only a licensed health professional can determine whether you have depression and get you the help that you need. </p><p>While difficult to manage, depression is treatable. Overall, a combination of therapy, medication, and lifestyle changes can help those with depression to recover and avoid future relapses. </p><h2>Related articles from <a href="https://www.insider.com/health-reference" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Health Reference</a>:</h2><ul><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/foods-that-battle-depression">The foods that fight depression and keep you happy</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/exercise-for-depression">Exercise for depression: How regular physical activity can help mental health</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/vitamin-d-depression">Vitamin D and depression: How Vitamin D may affect your mood</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/why-does-depression-make-you-tired">Why depression makes you tired and how to deal with fatigue</a></strong></li><li><strong><a href="https://www.insider.com/what-is-seasonal-depression">What is seasonal depression: why you may feel down during the winter</a></strong></li></ul>Read the original article on <a href="https://www.insider.com/am-i-depressed-quiz">Insider</a>

Am I depressed? Take our quiz to gauge your symptoms and find the right treatment

<ul><li><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"></div><p></p></div></div><strong>The gold standards for cancer detection still have&#xa0;many flaws.</strong></li><li><strong>Cancer researcher Jimmy Lin has developed a blood test that promises faster, less invasive, and more specific results.</strong></li><li><strong>Research in cancer patients could lead to trials on healthy people.&#xa0;</strong></li></ul><p>The best way people can maximize their chances of surviving most cancers is to catch them&#xa0;as early as possible, and Jimmy Lin thinks he's found the new gold standard in detection: a blood test.</p><p>Lin is a cancer genomics researcher, which means he looks at how cancer works on a genetic level. In April, he <a href="https://www.ted.com/talks/jimmy_lin_a_simple_new_blood_test_that_can_catch_cancer_early">gave a TED talk</a> that shed light on the shortcomings of the three leading cancer detection methods.</p><p>The first, medical procedures, are highly invasive. The second, testing for protein biomarkers, can produce a lot of false positives. And the third, imaging, can expose people to harmful levels of radiation, and it doesn't always work for everyone.</p><p>For&#xa0;the past few years, Lin has been interested in the idea of a non-invasive, highly specific, and widely applicable test that could find cancer early on.</p><p>"Does such a technology exist?" Lin asked&#xa0;the TED crowd. "Well, I wouldn't be up here giving a talk if it didn't."</p><h2>Detecting trace DNA</h2><p>The solution currently being developed by Lin and his team at the biotech company Natera is a blood test that can screen for all types of cancer. They've already found promising results. In his talk, he described a study&#xa0;in which doctors monitoring lung cancer patients in remission were able to use the blood test to catch the cancer's reccurence 100 days before traditional methods like a CT scan. That 100-day window, Lin said, could mean the difference between life and death.</p><p><span>The week after he gave his TED talk, Lin&#xa0;and his colleagues <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/28445469">published the full study</a> in the journal Nature. (Since the study hadn't been published, he couldn't talk about it in full at TED.) </span></p><p><span>The study showed that out of 24 cancer patients studied over time, the blood test picked up their&#xa0;cancer DNA 93% of the time and produced no false positives. The test also managed to detect cancer reccurence as early as 11 months before traditional methods.</span></p><p><span>"Lung cancer, when it recurs, is a pretty aggressive disease," Lin told Business Insider. Even the earliest stage, Stage IA, <a href="https://www.cancer.org/cancer/non-small-cell-lung-cancer/detection-diagnosis-staging/survival-rates.html">carries about a 50-50 chance of survival</a> over a five-year period. For the worst stage, metastatic lung cancer, the five-year survival rate drops to 1%.</span></p><p>Lin conceded the data aren't perfect, even if the test seems to work. His future studies will increase the sample size to hone in on the specificity of the test - or the ability for it to pick up one kind of cancer and not just cancer DNA in general.</p><p><span>As the company pursue that goal, Natera will&#xa0;make the blood test available for research use on cancer patients&#xa0;later this fall. At some point&#xa0;in 2018, armed with better data about which cancer varieties the test screens for best, Natera plans to launch a cancer-specific test for clinical use.</span></p><p><span>An even bigger jump, Lin said, is moving from testing cancer&#xa0;patients in remission to testing healthy patients. When doctors&#xa0;screen people that have had cancers with a possibility of recurrence, the chances are much greater of putting the test to work. But in healthy people it becomes more of a shot in the dark, and researchers can't be as sure they're not getting a false positive.</span></p><p><span>Decades down the line, Lin hopes patients will be able to learn if they have cancer in the same way they learn if they have high cholesterol. The presence or absence of cancer DNA would be just another piece of data on the long printout of bloodwork.</span></p><p><span>In the meantime, Lin advises people to rely on the current methods. Methods&#xa0;like colonoscopies and mammograms aren't perfect, but they still reduce cancer-related risk of death dramatically.</span></p><p>"Those adoption rates could be higher," Lin said. "So even with existing technologies, people should have this done."</p><div></div>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/video-cancer-spreading-in-mice-help-scientists-detect-earlier-humans-2017-7">Scientists have developed a new weapon in the fight against cancer</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

A blood test for cancer could be closer than people realize

Blue blocking glasses have become a popular way of protecting eyesight - but you probably don't need them

<p><span><strong>UNITEDHEALTH GROUP CREATES $250 MILLION VENTURE FUND:</strong> UnitedHealth Group's business unit, Optum, announced the <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171128006362/en/Optum-Announces-250-Million-Fund-Invest-Generation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">formation</a> of Optum Ventures, a $250 million fund to invest in early-stage and startup digital health companies. This new fund will specifically target firms who use data and insights to improve access to care, delivery of care, and how healthcare is paid for. </span></p><p><strong>Some of Optum Ventures initial investments include: </strong></p><ul><li><strong>Apervita</strong>, <span>a health analytics and data platform provider that enables healthcare providers to deliver better care and gain stronger insights by </span>reducing the amount of time it takes to build and deploy analytic applications. </li><li><strong>Buoy Health</strong>, a health technology company that developed an AI-powered assistant that helps patients better understand their symptoms and get health advice the moment they start to feel ill. </li><li><strong>SHYFT Analytics</strong>, a cloud-based data and analytics platform provider, which gives life science firms the insights needed to reduce costs and risk while increasing performance. </li></ul><p><strong>The creation of this new fund will help strengthen UnitedHealth Group's core business. </strong>In UnitedHealth Group's <a href="http://www.unitedhealthgroup.com/~/media/UHG/PDF/FLS/UNH-2017-InvConf-UHG-Overview-QandA.ashx?la=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">latest</a> investor conference, the firm listed three core competencies that the business is built around: data and health information to guide decision-making, clinical expertise to consistently deliver high-quality care at lower costs, and advanced technology. By targeting digital health companies that leverage data to improve the healthcare experience for both consumers and providers UnitedHealth Group is hitting on each of these competencies. </p><p><strong>A stronger core business will help the firm fend off competitors to maintain a leading market position. </strong>UnitedHealth Group isn't just the US's largest health insurer with more than 45 million members, it owns over 400 surgery and urgent care centers, runs over 22,000 practices for physicians, and via the firm's Optum unit it is also one of the largest pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) in the US, <a href="http://beta.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cvs-aetna-amazon-unitedhealth-20171101-story.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according</a> to the LA Times. However, the healthcare company is seeing increased competition from both traditional rivals - CVS Health, another of the US's largest PBMs, is closing in on a deal to acquire healthcare insurance giant Aetna - and tech challengers - Amazon and Apple have both <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/digital-health-briefing-amazon-to-enter-major-healthcare-partnership-apple-watch-aids-in-treating-depression-ibm-watson-shows-its-power-in-cancer-study-2017-11" target="_blank" rel="noopener">started</a> to make serious pushes into the healthcare industry. </p><p><strong>FDA APPROVES EKG BAND FOR APPLE WATCH: </strong><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved the first medical device accessory for the Apple Watch, AliveCor's Kardiaband EKG reader, reports </span><a href="https://techcrunch.com/2017/11/30/fda-clears-alivecors-kardiaband-as-the-first-medical-device-accessory-for-the-apple-watch/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">TechCrunch</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The device, which is already available in parts of Europe, attaches to a slot on the band of an Apple Watch, and the wearer can touch the sensor and get an EKG reading. This provides an alternative to other forms of mobile heart-rate monitoring such as using a smartphone attachment and typical EKG measurements, which require an in-office visit. AliveCor also introduced a new software feature, SmartRhythm, that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze heart rate and provide personalized insights. The Apple Watch is a natural platform for this sort of monitoring given its large installed base - Apple has sold 33 million of its device so far with further growth expected, according to </span><a href="http://bgr.com/2017/09/26/apple-watch-sales-estimate-33-million-revenue/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Asymco analyst estimates</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">. <div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table click-to-enlarge"><div><div class="image on-image"><a title_source="BI Intelligence" title_caption="" class="zoomin" href="https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/59f72c393e9d2591628b46ef-960/bii wearables forecast 2.png"><span class="sprites click-to-enlarge-icon" title="Click to enlarge"></span></a><p class="source"><span>BI Intelligence</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></span></p><p><strong>NEW STUDY SHOWS THE CAPABILITIES OF GOOGLE'S VOICE RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY: </strong> A new study <a href="http://www.mobihealthnews.com/content/google-researchers-speech-recognition-tech-can-lessen-physicians-transcription-burden" target="_blank" rel="noopener">released</a> by Google shows that the tech firm's voice recognition technology, similar to that deployed by Google Translate, could become an effective transcription tool for doctors, according to MobiHealthNews. In the proof of concept study, Google researchers developed automatic speech recognition methodologies that used multiple speakers to transcribe medical conversations between doctors and patients. This is unique in that it goes beyond most existing solutions that are only capable of recording one person due to issues with overlapping dialogue or differences in vocabulary. Although the methodologies were far from flawless - the best methodology had an error rate of 18% - they were still effective enough to provide doctors with vital information - one method had a 98% accuracy rate recalling drug names. This tool could ultimately help doctors build better connections with their patients by allowing them to review entire conversations prior to follow-ups. It also has the added benefit of reducing the time doctors spend documenting visits - <span>1.5 hours on an average day, according to Google's study. </span> </p><p><strong>NEW GE VENTURES COMPANY CUTS MIDDLEMAN OUT OF BLOOD DRAWS: </strong><a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171129005544/en/GE-Introduces-Healthcare-Technology-Company-Revolutionize-Blood"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drawbridge Health</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, a startup backed by GE Ventures, has a new device that could stabilize blood samples collected in clinics and coordinate delivery of those samples to labs. The device can draw a small amount of blood and store it in cartridges, which can then be shipped out to a specialized laboratory so that doctors can perform hormonal screenings, genetic tests, or monitor chronic conditions or diseases. The company is wholly focused on the collection and delivery of blood samples, rather than performing any actual tests on the blood. Drawbridge Health can cut out blood-draw facilities operated by lab companies like Quest Diagnostics - which brought in $7.5 billion in revenue in 2016. For patients in remote areas especially, this can eliminate one of the main barriers to expanded testing - the need to go from one potentially distant office to another - and allow more preventative care measures to be taken. And more broadly, by focusing on collection and transport of blood samples, Drawbridge could help reduce costs and make it easier for doctors to get patients the care that they need.</span></p><p><strong>IN OTHER NEWS…<span> </span></strong></p><ul><li><span>Cardiovascular diagnostic tech company <strong>HeartFlow</strong></span> is <a href="https://www.recode.net/2017/11/29/16716688/heartflow-financing-unicorn-valuation-billion-dollar-raise-round" target="_blank" rel="noopener">expected</a> to raise $150 million in a new round of funding, which would push the company's valuation above $1 billion, according to Recode. </li><li><span><strong>UnitedHealthcare</strong> <a href="http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20171129005902/en/UnitedHealthcares-New-Healthy-Pregnancy-Mobile-App-Designed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">introduced</a> a maternity health app, UnitedHealthcare Healthy Pregnancy, which gives patients access to 24-7 support from nurses during their pregnancy and after delivery. </span></li><li><span>California-based <strong>Cottage Health System</strong> and a number of affiliated hospitals agreed to a $2 million <a href="http://www.healthcareitnews.com/news/health-system-fined-2-million-making-patient-data-public-online-twice" target="_blank" rel="noopener">settlement</a> with the state of California over their failure to have basic safeguards in place to protect patient data, which led to two patient breaches in 2013 and 2015, according to Healthcare IT News. </span></li></ul><p class="tagline">Get the latest Google stock price<a href="http://markets.businessinsider.com/stock/GOOG-Quote"> here.</a></p>

DIGITAL HEALTH BRIEFING: UnitedHealth Group creates $250 million venture fund - EKG band approved for Apple Watch - New study shows Google is effective transcription tool

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>AP Photo </span></p><p class="caption">It's not destiny, but it matters a lot.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><ul><li><strong>A growing body of research suggests general cognitive ability may be the best predictor of job performance.</strong></li><li><strong>Social skills, drive, and personality traits such as conscientiousness matter, too.</strong></li><li><strong>Companies currently place a much greater emphasis on personality traits than on IQ.</strong></li><li><strong>It could be wise for companies to start measuring job candidates' intelligence <em>and</em> personality traits, to get a more holistic picture of their potential.</strong></li></ul><p>"The key for us, number one, has always been hiring very smart people," <a href="http://americanhistory.si.edu/comphist/gates.htm">Bill Gates once said in an interview</a>. "There is no way of getting around that in terms of IQ, you've got to be very elitist in picking the people who deserve to write software."</p><p>Gates was talking specifically about Microsoft, the tech behemoth he cofounded and ran for years. But that "elitist" strategy - prioritizing raw intelligence in the hiring process - turns out to be one with surprisingly broad applications. Years of research points to the same squirmy conclusion: Smart people make better workers.</p><h2><strong>IQ versus other factors</strong></h2><p>According to <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/basics/intelligence">Psychology Today</a>, IQ is a construct that encompasses problem-solving abilities, spatial manipulation, and language acquisition. On an <a href="https://www.psychologytoday.com/articles/201207/brainiacs-and-billionaires">IQ test</a>, a score of 100 is average; someone who scores 125 or above is in the top 5%. The two <a href="http://www.apa.org/monitor/feb03/intelligent.aspx">most common IQ tests</a> are the Stanford-Binet and the Wechsler scales. Versions of these are now used by the military, some schools, the National Football League - and certain employers.</p><p>A <a href="https://hbr.org/2017/10/what-science-says-about-identifying-high-potential-employees">recent article</a> in the Harvard Business Review highlights three ways to identify high-potential employees: ability, social skills, and drive. "Ability" consists of cognitive ability, or IQ. The authors write: "[I]n forecasting potential to excel in a bigger, more complex job at some point in the future, the question shifts to how likely an individual is to be able to learn and master the requisite knowledge and skill. The single-best predictor of this is IQ or cognitive ability."</p><p>These conclusions are largely based on <a href="http://www.drtomascp.com/uploads/PIOP_final_employability.pdf">a review</a> the authors - Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Seymour Adler, and Robert B. Kaiser - published in 2013, in the journal Industrial and Organizational Psychology. The review highlighted a gap between what companies look for in job candidates and what scientists say really matters to job performance. Specifically, "employers are more interested in employees' social skills than their cognitive ability."</p><p>The authors explain that their research suggests social skills matter, and so does drive. They call this three-factor model "inherently compensatory," meaning if your cognitive ability is only average, but your social skills or drive are off the charts, you still have a chance to excel at work.</p><p>As Michigan State University psychologist D. Zachary Hambrick put it, if you aren't incredibly intelligent, "acquire as much knowledge and skill as possible." Hambrick has spent a lot of time trying to <a href="http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/science/2014/04/what_do_sat_and_iq_tests_measure_general_intelligence_predicts_school_and.html">debunk the myth</a> that intelligence is overrated, and still he told me, "Cognitive ability is far from a perfect predictor of <em>any </em>outcome," whether that's job performance or academic performance. Even if you don't have, say, a 170 IQ, "it's not like you're doomed."</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/vfsdigitaldesign/7422081742/in/album-72157630241617046/">VFS Digital Design/Flickr</a></span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2><strong>Research on the role of IQ</strong></h2><p>The problem is that most human-resources personnel already acknowledge the importance of the ability to play nice with others and the <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/conscientiousness-predicts-success-2014-4">willingness to work hard</a>, while discounting the role of intelligence.</p><p>And at a time when more organizations are starting to embed personality testing into their hiring processes, and the term "emotionally intelligent" has become trendy in the workplace, it's worth taking a step back to get a more holistic picture of what matters to job performance.</p><p>One of the most widely cited pieces of research on the topic is a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/14717634">2004 paper</a>, published in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, by Frank L. Schmidt and John Hunter. The researchers reviewed dozens of studies and found that smarter people generally perform better at work, probably because smart people learn new skills more quickly.</p><p>The really surprising bit is that, while being smart is more important the more complicated your job is - think a lawyer or an accountant - it's even meaningful for relatively uncomplicated jobs.</p><p>More recently, in 2014, Wharton psychologist Adam Grant published <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20140930125543-69244073-emotional-intelligence-is-overrated/">a post</a> on LinkedIn arguing that emotional intelligence - a term popularized by Daniel Goleman that describes the ability to identify and manage your own and others' emotions - is less important than cognitive ability when it comes to job performance. Based on the results of studies he ran on hundreds of salespeople and hundreds of applicants for sales positions, Grant concluded:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"Cognitive ability was more than five times more powerful than emotional intelligence. The average employee with high cognitive ability generated annual revenue of over $195,000, compared with $159,000 for those with moderate cognitive ability and $109,000 for those with low cognitive ability. Emotional intelligence added nothing after measuring cognitive ability."</p><p>Interestingly, Grant wrote that the CEO of the company where the study was conducted was hard pressed to believe the results were accurate.</p><p>I asked Schmidt, a professor emeritus at the University of Iowa, why he thought many people have a hard time accepting that intelligence matters at work. Here's one reason he cited:</p><p style="padding-left: 30px;">"The concept that there is one personal trait, intelligence, which has a pretty strong genetic basis and which is very difficult to change, [that] is probably the most important determinant of where people wind up in the educational system and in the occupational structure and so forth - it seems unfair and it seems undemocratic."</p><h2><strong>Measuring IQ at work</strong></h2><p>Schmidt said that even companies that don't explicitly measure cognitive ability - say, by asking job candidates to sit for a written IQ test - may be assessing it indirectly.</p><p>He mentioned <a href="https://careers.microsoft.com/help/interview">Microsoft</a> and <a href="https://careers.google.com/how-we-hire/interview/#onsite-interviews">Google</a> specifically, which sometimes have candidates solve problems orally during job interviews. Their performance on those problems, Schmidt said, reflects their cognitive ability. Even your standard job interview, Schmidt said, has been shown to correlate modestly with cognitive ability.</p><p>Some organizations do measure general cognitive ability directly. The NFL, for example, has rookies <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/test-nfl-prospect-wonderlic-iq-intelligence-2015-8">take the Wonderlic test</a>, answering 50 questions in 12 minutes. <a href="https://www.wonderlic.com/">The Wonderlic</a> is also the most widely used measure of cognitive ability in the workplace; according to the company, in the past 12 months, roughly 6,000 customers purchased one of its assessment tools.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Shutterstock</span></p></div><p></p></div></div></p><h2><strong>Alternatives to measuring IQ</strong></h2><p>Not all researchers subscribe to the belief that IQ is the most powerful predictor of job performance. Scott Barry Kaufman, a psychologist and the author of the 2013 book "<a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00B3M3UME/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&amp;btkr=1">Ungifted: Intelligence Redefined</a>," says the emphasis on measuring IQ, and using it to determine someone's potential, can be limiting.</p><p>In a <a href="https://hbr.org/2013/06/why-we-need-to-redefine-intell">2013 interview</a> with Sarah Green Carmichael at the Harvard Business Review, he advised managers on how to treat employees: "Appreciating and making that person feel as though the unique, like I say, brand of intelligence they bring to the workforce, the workplace, is appreciated and valued, and that when you are very sensitive when you're creating these teams, you're very sensitive to the bigger picture in looking at all these different puzzles, all these different kinds of minds that you have as workers and helping to see who fits their value best into that bigger picture."</p><p>One solution, albeit an imperfect one, is to put job candidates through a more comprehensive screening process. That way, employers get a sense of cognitive abilities as well as personality traits.</p><p>In a 2014 <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/11/opinion/we-need-more-tests-not-fewer.html?_r=0">New York Times op-ed</a>, psychologist John Mayer suggested supplementing standardized tests such as the SAT with other tests that measure different cognitive abilities - for example, spatial reasoning or "'personal intelligence' - the ability to reason about a person's motives, emotions and patterns of activities." Mayer was writing about the education world, but the same logic might apply in the workplace.</p><h2><strong>Beyond the IQ test</strong></h2><p>I asked Hambrick if he thought it was important for people to know their own IQ score. Researching this topic had certainly made me want to know mine, if not to use it to meticulously plot out the rest of my career, to at least get a sense of what I could, realistically, achieve.</p><p>"Only if you want to know it," Hambrick said. "I don't think you should have to receive it if you don't want it." Hambrick doesn't know what his IQ score is - he said, "I'm not particularly interested in knowing it."</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/nfl-wonderlic-test-rookie-questions-iq-2016-11">Take the IQ test that every rookie has to take</a></h3>        <div>                    </div>    </div>

Science says IQ may be the best predictor of your potential to excel at work - and no one wants to hear it

<p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table float_right"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>Mario Tama/Getty Images</span></p><p class="caption">The Zika epidemic was a surprise that the world was totally unprepared for.</p></div><p></p></div></div>Just one year ago, most of the world had no idea the Zika virus existed. But it's not new. Researchers and others have known about Zika for 69 years now, and for about 68 of those years, the vast majority of the world didn't worry about it at all.</p><p>Now, just about everyone has at least a general idea of what the Zika virus is. People know it's transmitted by mosquitoes and occasionally sex, and they know it's dangerous for pregnant women, since the virus can cause fetal defects including microcephaly: smaller-than-normal heads and brains.</p><p>But this story of a virus no one worried about turning out to be far more dangerous than expected is not a unique story or an outlier. Instead, as a new review <a href="http://science.sciencemag.org/lookup/doi/10.1126/science.aaf8160">published in the journal Science</a> notes, it's just another example of how woefully unprepared we are for dealing with emerging viruses.</p><p>"Despite knowing about this disease for nearly 70 years, we were completely surprised and rushing to discover the very basic things about it when it invaded the Americas," Justin Lessler, lead author of the study and an associate professor of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/emb_releases/2016-07/jhub-ncs070716.php">says in a press release</a>.</p><p>"We have been completely unable to stop its spread. That is a problem for how we approach public health," <a href="http://www.eurekalert.org/emb_releases/2016-07/jhub-ncs070716.php">says</a> Lessler. "We will always be in this situation when something new comes about or something little-known reemerges unless we do a better job planning for threats more generally instead of always fighting the last battle."</p><p>We're struggling to try to contain Zika's impact now, but without addressing at least some of the factors that made us vulnerable to Zika in the first place, the next epidemic could hit just as hard or could easily be far more devastating.</p><h2>The Zika puzzle could have answers for any new virus</h2><p>As Lessler and co-authors highlight, there's still a staggering amount we don't know about Zika.</p><p>But perhaps the most important question is this: Why did a virus that seemed relatively harmless suddenly explode, causing real and tragic health consequences?</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span><a href="http://www.apimages.com/metadata/Index/Venezuela-Zika-Challenges/76b6a3767e484007ac84654819b6cfe0/202/0">Fernando Llano/AP</a></span></p><p class="caption">We need more research on ways to control mosquito populations.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>There are two major possibilities. Perhaps the Zika epidemic in Latin America is the result of the (perhaps predictable) spread of a virus to a place with the same mosquitoes that can carry it in other places but a vulnerable population with no immunity against it (people in Africa and Southeast Asia already have some Zika immunity). Or maybe the virus mutated and became more dangerous.</p><p>There are other possibilities mentioned in the review as well: Perhaps the mosquitoes in Latin America had some genetic quirk that made them more likely to spread the virus; perhaps exposure to related viruses like dengue and chikungunya made Zika's effects worse.</p><p>Solving that main question could help public health officials better anticipate future viral threats. History has shown that unknown viruses repeatedly emerge, and some may be far more dangerous than Zika.</p><p>Other recent viral outbreaks that surprised the world with their emergence or re-emergence include dengue, chikungunya, and West Nile - and those are just the mosquito-borne viruses in the same family as Zika, flaviviruses. We already knew some of those viruses, like dengue, were dangerous, but the world <a href="http://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/10665/148532/1/dbv21p16.pdf">was still surprised</a> when they re-emerged with force after previously being controlled.</p><p>And Zika isn't the only virus that we've thought harmless unless proven otherwise. The world used to think the same about another family of viruses called coronaviruses.</p><p>"But then SARS came around," Dr. Michael Kurilla, director of the Office of Biodefense Research Resources and Translational Research at the NIH's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), <a href="http://www.techinsider.io/zika-virus-shows-why-emerging-diseases-are-so-dangerous-2016-1">told me earlier </a>this year. During the 2002-2003 outbreak, SARS <a href="http://www.who.int/csr/sars/country/table2004_04_21/en/">infected more than 8,000 and killed approximately 10%</a> of those infected.</p><p>Ten years later, MERS, another dangerous coronavirus, emerged <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-mers-new-middle-east-coronavirus-2014-4">spread in the Middle East</a> and eventually <a href="http://www.who.int/csr/don/07-july-2015-mers-korea/en/">in South Korea</a>.</p><p>"Within 10 years, there'll probably be another example," Kurilla said.</p><p>Not being able to anticipate these outbreaks and not having an immediate potential response to a new virus puts lives at risk.</p><h2>The next big one</h2><p>In the newly published study, the authors recommend having steps in place to deal with an emerging virus.</p><p>In the case of something like Zika, where there's no immediate cure or treatment available, one possible strategy they suggest is figuring out how to better control the mosquitoes that spread the virus.</p><p><div class="KonaFilter image-container display-table"><div><div class="image on-image"><p class="source"><span>CDC/Joel G. Breman, M.D., D.T.P.H.</span></p><p class="caption">Ebola's first emergence required a mission to the Congo to try to find the origin of the virus.</p></div><p></p></div></div></p><p>Since mosquitoes spread a number of diseases, Lessler and co-authors argue that funding for mosquito control research is essential. So far, they say, we know that door and window screens reduce the odds of developing dengue, which is spread in a very similar way to Zika, by 78%. We know using insect repellent reduces bug bites. But we don't have evidence that indoor spraying, bed nets, or mosquito traps reduce disease rates. Finding the best way to control mosquitoes could make a huge difference.</p><p>And there are other potential solutions too. Many researchers are interested in finding anti-viral agents that can be used against a broad range of viruses, just as certain antibiotics can be used against many different bacterial infections.</p><p>Since a new virus - or a mutated version of an existing one - can spread around the world before researchers have the chance to try and develop a way to treat it, an antiviral agent that could be used against any such surprise would be a valuable tool.</p><p>These treatments, called "broad-spectrum antivirals," could be the biggest advance in medicine since the invention of antibiotics.</p><p>There are promising compounds out there. An interferon compound, for example, is based on something our body naturally produces; it's <a href="http://www.nhs.uk/Conditions/Hepatitis-C/Pages/Treatment.aspx">already been used to treat hepatitis C.</a> That compound has also been tested in humans against SARS, certain influenza viruses, and Ebola. But so far, we haven't discovered anything that is safe, effective, and well-tested enough to be used widely.</p><p>Viruses are, by their nature, unpredictable. They can be found in reservoirs all over the world. Some thrive in bats and rodents and monkeys. Others lurk in shellfish, ticks, or other creatures. They mutate frequently when they replicate, which can make a virus all of a sudden jump a species barrier to infect humans. A mild virus can become deadly.</p><p>Every year different flus circulate around the world. In <a href="http://www.flu.gov/pandemic/history/1918/the_pandemic/index.html">1918, a flu strain emerged</a> that killed up to 50 million people. There's no reason the same thing couldn't happen again.</p><p>As journalist David Quammen explains in his book "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Spillover-Animal-Infections-Human-Pandemic/dp/0393066800?tag=TIsafetynet-20">Spillover: Animal Infections and the Next Human Pandemic</a>," a deadly new virus will inevitably appear: "If you're a thriving population, living at high density but exposed to new bugs, it's just a matter of time until the [Next Big One] arrives."</p><p>The question is whether we'll be any more prepared tomorrow than we are today.</p>    <div class="margin-top">        <h3>NOW WATCH: <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/most-popular-map-of-the-world-is-totally-misleading-2016-6">Here's why the most popular map of the world is totally misleading</a></h3>        <div>            <div>        <div class="ooyala-video-player" data-video-autoplay="false" data-video-id="hibTJkNDE6lMai9-4GbPeFO3VSDazzTm" data-player-variable="ooyalapopvideo" id="ooyalaplayer_popvideo" style="width:1280px;height:720px"></div>        </div>        </div>            </div>

You Searched For "Genetic screening solutions" and got 7 results

Google revealed new info about its workforce, and it shows a big retention problem that could inflame the company's culture war

Greg Sandoval

Am I depressed? Take our quiz to gauge your symptoms and find the right treatment

Rebecca Cairns,Ruobing Su

A blood test for cancer could be closer than people realize

Chris Weller

Blue blocking glasses have become a popular way of protecting eyesight - but you probably don't need them

Kevin Loria

DIGITAL HEALTH BRIEFING: UnitedHealth Group creates $250 million venture fund - EKG band approved for Apple Watch - New study shows Google is effective transcription tool

Ayoub Aouad,Peter Newman

Science says IQ may be the best predictor of your potential to excel at work - and no one wants to hear it

Shana Lebowitz

'We have been completely unable' to stop the spread of Zika. That's part of a larger problem

Kevin Loria