Russell Simmons’ Lab Book

Learn how Dr. Oz and music mogul Russell Simmons create tunes using basic household items.

When entrepreneur and producer Russell Simmons stopped by the show, he showed off his genius for making music – by using science. Find out how Russell transformed glass bottles, water and a spoon into a makeshift musical instrument. Then try it out for yourself at home!

How did Russell make music using bottles?

Empty bottles of identical size would all produce the same noise if you tapped them with a spoon. But, by filling the bottles with different amounts of water, Russell altered each bottle’s “vibrating mass” and, thus, its pitch. This is why each bottle produced a different sound, and why, together, they form an instrument capable of melodies. The technique gives insight into how real musical instruments are constructed.

Your Parent Has Dementia: What to Talk to Their Doctor About

Make sure all their doctors are aware of all the medications she is taking.

Q: My mom is 94 and has dementia. She is taking a whole medicine cabinet-full of medications and I think they actually make her fuzzier. How should I talk to her various doctors about what she is taking and if she can get off some of the meds? — Gary R., Denver, Colorado

A: Many dementia patients are taking what docs call a "polypharmacy" — three or more medications that affect their central nervous system. And we really don't know how that mixture truly affects each individual person.

A new study in JAMA Network that looked at more than 1 million Medicare patients found almost 14% of them were taking a potentially harmful mix of antidepressants, antipsychotics, antiepileptics, benzodiazepines such as Valium and Ativan, nonbenzodiazepine benzodiazepine receptor agonist hypnotics such as Ambien or Sonata, and opioids. And almost a third of those folks were taking five or more such medications. The most common medication combination included an antidepressant, an antiepileptic, and an antipsychotic. Gabapentin was the most common medication — often for off-label uses, such as to ease chronic pain or treat psychiatric disorders, according to the researchers from the University of Michigan.

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