Healthy Aging Print The Cross-Linking Theory of How Sugar Makes Us Age Written by twitter linkedin Written by Mark Stibich, PhD Mark Stibich, PhD, FIDSA, is a behavior change expert with experience helping individuals make lasting lifestyle improvements. Learn about our editorial policy Mark Stibich, PhD Updated on July 03, 2018 FangXiaNuo/Getty Images More in Prevention & Treatment Healthy Aging Vaccines First Aid Occupational Therapy Holistic Health Surgery Did you know that your sweet tooth could make you age faster? Here's what you need to know about a process called the cross-linking theory of aging— and how sugar makes us age. What Is Cross-Linking? When you heat onions or toast bread, the sugar molecules in the foods bond to protein molecules. This bonding, which in cooking is called caramelization, is a result of the sugar molecules attaching to protein molecules. When this happens, a series of reactions occur, called glycation, that result in protein molecules bonding with each other. This cross-linking theory is the idea that chemical changes like this happen in your body and can lead to aging. The process is slow and complicated, but over time, more and more proteins, DNA and other structural molecules in the body develop inappropriate attachments, called cross-links, to one another. These cross-linked molecules don't function properly, and when enough cross-linked molecules accumulate in a specific tissue—such as cartilage, lungs, arteries, and tendons—it can cause problems. Results of Cross-Linking When cross-linking occurs, tissues become stiffer, and when tissues stiffen they don't function as efficiently. Many of the symptoms of aging have to do with the stiffening of tissues. Cataracts, for example, are a stiffening of your eyes' lenses. Cross-linking of skin protein collagen has been found to be partially responsible for wrinkles and other age-related skin changes, and researchers believe that cross-linking of protein the walls of the arteries account for atherosclerosis, or the hardening of arteries that increases your risk for heart attack and stroke, among other conditions. In addition, cross-linking of brain proteins occurs naturally with age, supporting the cross-linking theory of aging. Slow It Down While you can't stop cross-linking, you can slow it down. Researchers believe that if the concentration of sugar in the blood is high, then more cross-linking occurs. Foods with a high glycemic index, such as sugary sodas and juices, release sugar into the body quickly. These foods have been associated with cardiovascular disease, possibly because of protein cross-linking. Everyone could benefit from keeping their blood sugar from spiking. And it could keep you looking and feeling young! Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit Article Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial policy to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Aging Under the Microscope; National Institutes of Health, National Institute of Aging. American Federation of Aging Research. (2011). Theories of Aging. Sugar and Cardiovascular Disease. Circulation. 2002;106:523. Continue Reading