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Shon Lowe, who cared for her mother after an Alzheimer’s diagnosis at 58, received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment in November 2025. In an interview with Being Patient, she said memory changes and her family experience led her to push for neurological assessment after a primary care provider attributed her concerns mainly to menopause. The report does not establish that Lowe has Alzheimer’s disease.
Shon Lowe received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in November 2025, after memory changes prompted her to seek further evaluation, according to an interview published by Being Patient. Lowe said years of caring for her mother, who was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s at 58, helped her recognize changes she felt warranted assessment; MCI is the diagnosis reported, not Alzheimer’s disease.
Lowe, 52, told Being Patient founder Deborah Kan that she noticed forgetfulness, difficulty recalling passwords and putting items in the wrong places, experiences also described in another Alzheimer’s diagnosis story. She said she began using Post-it notes to remember tasks, and that her youngest daughter encouraged her to get checked. Lowe also raised concerns about sleep deprivation, which she understood could affect cognition.
At an initial appointment, Lowe said a primary care provider attributed most of her concerns to menopause. She felt that explanation did not account for what she was experiencing and asked for a referral to a neurologist. Lowe said she waited about three months for the appointment and used that time to gather information, including genetic testing arranged through her workplace’s flexible spending account.
Lowe told Being Patient that the test showed she had one copy of the APOE ε4 variant, a genetic risk factor associated with Alzheimer’s disease. A risk-associated variant is not a diagnosis. The report says she later received an MCI diagnosis in November 2025, but does not provide clinical records or details of the assessment. Lowe described preparing for the neurology visit so she could make her concerns clear and avoid being dismissed.
Caregiving Shaped Her Diagnostic Journey
Lowe’s account illustrates how family caregiving can influence a person’s interpretation of their own symptoms. She said her mother’s experience made certain changes, including trouble with passwords and increasing forgetfulness, feel familiar. That recognition led her to seek further evaluation rather than accept an explanation she felt was incomplete.
Her story also highlights the gap between noticing changes and obtaining specialist assessment. Lowe described a referral request and a three-month wait for a neurologist. Her experience is an individual account and does not establish how often patients are initially told that memory problems stem from menopause, or how broadly her experience applies to other patients.
The distinction between MCI and Alzheimer’s disease matters for readers: the report identifies Lowe’s diagnosis as MCI and mentions her APOE ε4 result as a risk factor. It does not say that she has Alzheimer’s or that the genetic result determined her diagnosis.
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From Mother’s Care to Her Own Evaluation
Lowe has spoken publicly as an Alzheimer’s caregiver and brain health advocate, including about challenges faced by people in communities of color. Her mother was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s at age 58, according to the Being Patient report. That history formed the backdrop to Lowe’s decision to seek answers when she noticed changes in her own memory.
The interview was part of Being Patient’s “Journey to Diagnosis” series. The publication disclosed that the series was sponsored by Eisai and said the sponsor had no role in selecting guests, shaping questions or reviewing the interview before publication. The report also says Lowe discussed a recent concussion and barriers to timely diagnosis and care in Black and brown communities, but the supplied account gives limited detail on those topics.
“I knew something wasn’t quite right, and I wanted answers.”
— Shon Lowe, speaking to Being Patient
What the Report Does Not Establish
The interview reports an MCI diagnosis but does not describe the tests used, the clinician’s findings, or what follow-up plan Lowe received. It also does not establish the cause of her symptoms or whether they will change over time. MCI is the diagnosis stated in the report; no Alzheimer’s diagnosis for Lowe is reported.
The account does not provide the name or type of genetic test, its full results, or independent medical interpretation of Lowe’s APOE ε4 finding. It mentions a concussion but does not explain when it occurred or whether clinicians linked it to her memory concerns. The interview also does not give further specifics about the access barriers Lowe discussed.
Further Details on Care and Follow-Up
Being Patient’s interview focuses on Lowe’s experience and advocacy; it does not announce a scheduled medical milestone or report a new treatment plan. The next developments in her personal story, including any additional testing, monitoring or support, are not specified in the published account.
For readers, the report’s practical point is limited to Lowe’s experience: she documented concerns, asked for a specialist referral and brought information to her appointment. A person’s memory symptoms and care decisions require assessment by qualified health professionals; Lowe’s account should not be treated as a diagnosis or medical advice for others.
Key Questions
What diagnosis did Shon Lowe receive?
Being Patient reports that Lowe received a mild cognitive impairment diagnosis in November 2025. It does not report that she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
What memory changes did Lowe describe?
Lowe said she forgot things she had usually remembered, had difficulty with passwords, put items in the wrong places and began using Post-it notes as reminders. She also mentioned concerns about sleep deprivation.
What did Lowe’s genetic test show?
Lowe told Being Patient that testing showed one copy of APOE ε4. The report describes this as a genetic link associated with Alzheimer’s risk; it is not presented as proof that Lowe has Alzheimer’s disease.
How did caring for her mother affect Lowe’s response?
Lowe said her mother’s experience with younger-onset Alzheimer’s made some changes feel familiar and encouraged her to seek answers. She said she requested a neurologist referral after her initial concerns were attributed mainly to menopause.
What is not known about Lowe’s diagnosis?
The report does not detail the clinical tests, the cause of her symptoms, her follow-up plan or whether the symptoms will change. It also does not say that she has Alzheimer’s disease.
Source: beingpatient.com
