Protein Damage

Misfolded proteins accumulate when proteins lose their correct three-dimensional shape, and this accumulation is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases and is implicated in cancer. Glycation is the chemical bonding of a sugar molecule to a protein, producing a toxic, non-functional compound. The concern with protein damage is the small functional proteins (mostly enzymes) inside cells, not structural proteins like muscle or ligament. Elevated blood sugar accelerates glycation, and the resulting toxic aggregates are directly linked to neurodegeneration and cancer progression.