That was... never a theory. It can't explain aging, because telomeres are either present or not, but aging is a gradual process. (Telomerase is something entirely different, the enzyme that adds telomeres to the DNA in gametes.)
Telomeres are also unimplicated in progeria ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progeria ), which would be a serious problem if people thought aging was caused by loss of telomeres.
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that is what i learned 25 years ago too, but apparently the leading edge of gerontology has moved on, and new theories have emerged
That was... never a theory. It can't explain aging, because telomeres are either present or not, but aging is a gradual process. (Telomerase is something entirely different, the enzyme that adds telomeres to the DNA in gametes.)
Telomeres are also unimplicated in progeria ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progeria ), which would be a serious problem if people thought aging was caused by loss of telomeres.