Move your mouth to improve your memory

In Mel Brooks’ 1976 movie “Young Frankenstein,” Fredrick Frankenstein

(Gene Wilder), grandson of the original Dr. F., re-creates his erratically behaving Monster (Peter Boyle). He then tries to show the nervous townsfolk just how bright and good-natured his creature is by preforming a dancing and singing duet of “Putting on the Ritz.”

And, after some rehearsal (we assume), the monster remembers and performs every word.

The scene is hilarious, but there’s solid science there: The monster’s borrowed brain was demonstrating a technique that can give you a monster memory, too! Speaking — or singing and dancing — out loud improves long-term memory!

In a new study, researchers from Canada’s University of Waterloo had groups of students focus on dozens of words either by hearing a recording of their own voice saying the words, by hearing someone else say them, by reading the words silently or by reading them aloud. Then, the students were shown words and asked if they had just studied them or not. Those who read the words aloud were far more able to remember them correctly, around 77 percent of the time.

Seems combining reading and vocalization activates two parts of the brain and involves physical motion — a sure-fire way to strengthen memory muscles. So the next time you want to remember a phone number or a document at work, find a spot where you can read it aloud. (BTW, it doesn’t have to be loud.)

FDA bans triclosan in OTC health care products

For a long time, triclosan was thought to be a pretty good bet , because it helped knock out unwanted bacteria in consumer and hospital products. It’s been used in everything from cleaning supplies to toothpaste — in fact, it’s a good bet that any product that says “antimicrobial” or “antibacterial” on the label contains triclosan or its cousin triclocarbon.

Unfortunately, triclosan’s antiseptic properties are toxic to the liver, thyroid and lungs. It’s also a hormone disruptor and promotes antibiotic resistance. So the Food and Drug Administration has banned it for use in over-the-counter health care antiseptic products, labeling it NON-GRAS (“not generally regarded as safe”). Previously it was banned from use in soaps, but even with this new ban, it’s still in use until December 2018. (That’s when it and 23 other chemicals must be out of products.)

Email questions for Mehmet Oz and Mike Roizen to youdocsdaily@sharecare. com.