One probable cause of age-related dna and cellular abnormalities is accidental injuries, such as pulled muscles. the release of free radicals. wear-and-tear caused by excessive use. the programmed action of telomeres.

The correct answer is the release of free radicals.  In accidental injuries such as a pulled muscle, there will be a subsequent inflammation and the inflammatory process involves the release of inflammatory mediators which then will increase the migration of inflammatory cells (i.e. neutrophils, lymphocytes) on the site of inflammation. This influx of inflammatory cells will produce a large amount of free radicals (i.e. hydrogen peroxide, superoxide ions) which then will damage DNA.