Do telomeres shorten with age?

Yes, telomeres shorten with age. As cells divide, the DNA replication machinery is unable to fully replicate the very ends of chromosomes, leading to the progressive shortening of telomeres. This shortening process is a natural part of cellular aging. Eventually, when telomeres become critically short, cells may enter a state of senescence (permanent growth arrest) or undergo apoptosis (programmed cell death), which contributes to tissue aging and the decline of regenerative capacity in tissues.