UPDATE 1. Elastin and Collagen
There is more information accumulating in the literature that points to glycation effects as a major cause of aging. Chief among these is the cross-linking of collagen and elastin by individual AGE components. Cross-linked collagen becomes almost non-functional and is completely non-functional in some cases. The loss of these two structural proteins essentially causes the skin to collapse, and it becomes thinner, loose and discolored. The discoloration is a consequence related to glycation, and there appears to be considerable association with the glycation process itself.