what causes telomeres to shorten
Age related decreases in the volume of fat cells in the subcutaneous layer may be caused by telomere shortening, and can lead to more noticeable wrinkles and sagging; Sunlight may contribute to this degradation of the dermis; Sunlight does not appear to shorten telomeres
Chronic stress accelerates premature aging by shortening DNA telomeres. A wide range of studies have shown that the stress caused by things like: untreated depression, social isolation, long-term unemployment, anxiety attacks... can speed-up the aging process by shortening the length of each DNA strand.