Aging

MCAT Basics (from MedSchoolCoach)

MedSchoolCoach

Science

4.6 • 612 Ratings

🗓️ 22 May 2025

⏱️ 31 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Aging is an essential topic for the MCAT, and in this episode, we’ll explore it from multiple angles. We start with the biological aspects of aging, including key processes like telomere shortening, cell senescence, and mitochondrial dysfunction—each providing insight into how and why cells age. From there, we dive into how aging impacts the brain, including the types of memory and cognitive functions that either decline or improve with age. Lastly, we’ll cover the sociology of aging, focusing on the life course theory, the social significance of aging, and demographic changes.

Expect a comprehensive breakdown of these concepts, with real-world applications and examples to reinforce your understanding.

Visit MedSchoolCoach.com for more help with the MCAT.

Jump Into the Conversation:

(00:00) Intro

(02:30) Cellular markers of aging: Protein aggregation and telomere shortening

(04:55) Exploring cell senescence and autophagy dysregulation

(07:20) Mitochondrial dysfunction and its role in cellular aging

(09:10) Deep dive into telomeres and the Hayflick Limit

(12:30) Introduction to aging in the brain

(13:45) Memory and cognitive functions that remain stable with age

(15:30) Brain functions that improve as we age: Crystallized intelligence and emotional intelligence

(17:00) Brain functions that decline with age: Episodic memory and processing speed

(19:30) Causes of changes in brain function: Brain size, vasculature, and neurotransmitter levels

(22:15) Introduction to the life course theory and its relation to aging

(24:45) The social significance of aging in different cultures

(26:00) The aging population and its impact on healthcare

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0	Welcome to MCAT Basics, your ultimate guide to the essential topics you need to master for the MCAT,
0:08.0	brought to you by the physicians at Med School Coach.
0:11.0	Every week, Sam Smith breaks down high-yield MCAT topics, ensuring you're primed for success on test day.
0:17.0	Join Sam as we explore the most crucial subjects outlined by the AAMC, pulled from official practice materials and third-party resources.
0:25.0	Get ready to elevate your MCAT game with topics tailored to maximize your score potential.
0:30.2	Hello, I'm Sam Smith.
0:33.1	This podcast is going to cover aging.
0:35.6	I'm first going to dive into some biology and talk about aging at the cellular level. And in this part, I'm going to cover aging. I'm first going to dive into some biology and talk about aging at the cellular level.
0:40.3	And in this part, I'm going to cover cell senescence as well as telomeres.
0:43.9	Then I'm going to talk about aging in the brain.
0:46.9	Then after that, I'll look at aging through the lens of psychology and sociology.
0:52.0	At this point, I'll be talking about aging in the life course, the social
0:56.1	significance of aging, and finally, the demographic structure of society in terms of aging.
1:03.2	As you can guess from that intro, this is going to be a twofer. You're going to get two sections
1:07.7	here, the bio-biochem section, as well as the psych-soch section.
1:13.0	So with that said, I hope you find this podcast helpful in your studies,
1:15.9	and good luck as you prepare for the MCAT.
1:24.9	Okay, the first thing I want to do here is talk about aging at the cellular level,
1:28.8	and then I'll get more into what happens at the macroscopic level with a discussion of aging
1:34.0	and memory.
1:36.7	So first off, I want to answer this question.
1:39.1	You know, what is cellular aging?
	...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Previous episode | Next episode

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from MedSchoolCoach, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of MedSchoolCoach and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.