The calcified deposits that accumulate in the aging eye and brain are a hallmark of diseases of aging, including age-related macular degeneration and Alzheimer's disease, and share similarities with the plaques that form in atherosclerosis. These deposits are rich in blood proteins, lipids and inorganic ions, but the process of deposit formation is poorly understood. Here we show that structural and functional information can be obtained from solid-state NMR and solution NMR experiments, with proteins and lipids in complex molecular assemblies that resemble the native environment as closely as possible.