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Telomere Attrition

Meaning

Telomere attrition is the progressive, irreversible shortening of telomeres, the protective repetitive DNA sequences located at the ends of all linear chromosomes. This shortening occurs primarily with each cycle of cell division, acting as a biological clock for the cell. Critically short telomeres signal the cell to enter senescence, a state of irreversible growth arrest, or to undergo apoptosis. In the context of hormonal health and longevity, the rate of telomere attrition is a measurable biomarker of biological age and is significantly accelerated by chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and adverse hormonal profiles.