New Pathways to Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Diseases

Cohen & Oalican, LLP share recent Alzheimer's research.

Although Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease have different genetic causes and pathways, all these ailments have one thing in common. All of them cause untimely death of the brain cells and the reason that this happens has been a dilemma to the treatment of these fatal diseases.

A recent study by a group of doctors and others at the Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute that was published in the July 30 issue of the medical journal Molecular Cell, throws some light on this brain cell death in patients of these diseases. The sudden and untimely transfer of a gaseous molecule called NO or nitric oxide from one cell protein to another could be the answer. Earlier research had revealed that NO and other molecules were responsible for nerve cell death or survival, but in this case, NO was seen to actually move from one protein to another through new molecular channels, triggering cellular suicide.

This was explained by the senior author of the research study group and the director of the Del E. Web Center for Neuroscience, Aging and Stem Cell Research at Sanford-Burnham, Stuart A. Lipton, M.D., Ph.D. Since this molecular evidence for the untimely cell death in Parkinson’s, Alzheimer's, and Huntington's diseases has been discovered, it would be possible now to utilize this new breakthrough to diagnose, treat and hopefully prevent these illnesses in the near future. As a Harvard-educated neurologist who runs his own clinical practice, Dr. Lipton is familiar with these fatal diseases as he observes his patients.

This research study has revealed that NO molecules relocate from the caspases to the XIAP proteins; the former are proteins that usually trigger cell death while the latter inhibit it. The caspases protein throws the NO molecule away like a “hot potato” to the XIAP protein to avoid the imminent cell death and this process happens through a chemical reaction called transnitrosylation. This action brings about a dual distress for the brain cells, as these cells are programmed to self-destruct when caspases do not have NO on them or XIAP have the molecule attached to them. Either way then it is death for the brain cells, as both these fatal actions happen simultaneously. In the study, it was shown that persons with neurodegenerative diseases had the NO molecule attached to the XIAP protein more frequently than those with normal brains. This reinforced the theory that this change in protein structure brings about cell degeneration.

The research group used a new arrangement of the Nernst equation to understand and analyze whether the caspases or the XIAP protein is more likely to end up with the NO molecule. The Nernst equation is taught in every chemistry class and is a mathematical equation that was found in the 19^th century. This possible prediction of the NO attachment to the brain cell proteins may ultimately help doctors to make earlier diagnosis of these neurodegenerative ailments, thereby kindling hope for treatment and cure. Cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue from patients suffering from Parkinson's and Alzheimer’s is being studied and analyzed to find out whether the NO-attached proteins could be utilized as biomarkers to understand the progress and evolution of these diseases.

In ongoing research based on these findings, to formulate treatment and therapy to treat these neurodegenerative ailments, Dr. Lipton and his team are using robotic technology in Sanford-Burnham's Conrad Prebys Center for Chemical Genomics. Chemicals are being screened in their thousands to discover drugs that may stop the movement of the NO molecule from one protein to another, which may soon prevent brain cell death.

Do you have a plan if nursing home care is needed for yourself or your spouse? Will your home be protected?

Call Cohen & Oalican, LLP, they will help you to protect your home and all of you savings so you can focus on your loved one.

Superior Court Upholds MassHealth Applicant's Sale of Property to Daughter:

Part 2
A Summary of Clark v. Dehner

Superior Court Decision

The Superior Court overturned MassHealth's decision, finding that the transaction between Susan and Michelle was valid and should not be considered a disqualifying transfer. The Court determined that the transaction was for fair market value, and that the promissory note satisfied all of the regulations requirements, in that it was actuarially sound, provided for equal payments, and prohibited cancellation at Susan's death. The Court disagreed with MassHealth's determination that the note was not reasonably enforceable because the transaction had occurred between family members. The Court acknowledged that there was no guarantee that Susan would sue Michelle in the event that she defaulted on the note. However, the Court noted that it was inappropriate of MassHealth to assume that Susan would not seek to enforce the note by all available means.

Conclusion

Practitioners and clients should be encouraged by the Court's decision in Clark. The decision validates transactions between family members using promissory notes, which can be a valuable last-minute planning option for clients needing immediate long-term care in a nursing home. Clark also offers practitioners with a creative planning opportunity to cure disqualifying transfers into irrevocable trusts, while preserving the value of the transferred asset for the family. The decision is also an important step in reversing MassHealth's trend of dissallowing long-term care planning techniques between family members set into motion by the implementation of the DRA. However, even in light of this favorable decision, practitioners are urged to be cautious and draft promissory notes and related agreements between family members in strict accordance with MassHealth's regulations.

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Cohen & Oalican, LLP provide a full spectrum of services for the elderly, for disabled adults, and for the families.

Review the Deed to Your Home - You Might be Surprised What it Says!

Did you know that how you own your home during your life determines who receives it upon your death? There are several ways a person can own a home. Therefore, there are different possible outcomes concerning who receives that house upon your death.

For most of our clients, the home is their most valuable asset. So, its often a big surprise when folks realize the deed will override a conflicting bequest in their will regarding the disposition of real estate. If you’re the only owner on the deed (meaning there are no other person identified as owners with you), then the real estate is a probate asset. This means that your will determines who receives that house when die. In that case, make certain your will represents your current wishes. Otherwise, that house could pass to that nephew you liked twenty years ago, but can’t stand any longer. By the way, if you don’t have a will, the state in which you live has one for you. That’s called “intestate” law and it’s a set of default rules about the who gets your property.

If you own a home with another person, the deed gets much more complicated. This is because deeds are chock full of old legal terms that can confound a homeowner. A good elder law attorney can explain the implications of the deed. However, to get a head start, look for certain terms in that deed.

Here’s a few critical terms to look for:

“Joint Tenants” - that means if you die, your share of the house automatically passes to the surviving other owners. In that case, it doesn’t matter what your will says, a joint deed determines where the house goes, not your will. One benefit of joint ownership is that it avoids probate. It’s a convenient way to pass on real estate as long as the joint owners are the persons you wish to receive your share of the property.

“Tenants-in-Common” is a deed which defers to your will. If you own your home as “tenants-in-common” with two other people and you die, your one-third of the house passes according to the terms of your will and not automatically to the other two owners of the house. The benefit of this type of ownership is that you can change who receives your share simply by signing a new will. The downside is that will must be probated with court to pass your interest in the real estate interest to your heirs.


Cohen & Oalican, LLP provide a full spectrum of services for the elderly, for disabled adults, and for the families.