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Shon Lowe, 52, received a mild cognitive impairment diagnosis in November 2025 after noticing memory changes and pressing for further evaluation. She says caring for her mother, who developed younger-onset Alzheimer’s at 58, helped her recognize concerns and advocate for a neurologist referral. The available interview does not establish that Lowe has Alzheimer’s disease or explain the cause of her symptoms.
Shon Lowe, 52, received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in November 2025 after seeking evaluation for memory changes she said reminded her of her mother’s younger-onset Alzheimer’s. In an interview with Being Patient, Lowe described pushing for a neurologist referral after a primary care provider attributed her concerns to menopause, turning years of caregiving into a guide for advocating for her own assessment.
Lowe told Being Patient that she began noticing forgetfulness, difficulty recalling passwords and putting items in the wrong places, including things that belonged in the refrigerator. She also said she started using Post-it notes to remember tasks and was concerned about sleep deprivation. Her youngest daughter urged her to get checked, she said. These are Lowe’s descriptions of her experience; the interview does not establish which symptoms led to the diagnosis or their medical cause.
According to the interview, a primary care provider initially suggested menopause could explain Lowe’s concerns. Lowe said she disagreed that it accounted for everything she was experiencing and requested a referral to a neurologist. She described waiting about three months for the appointment and arranging genetic testing through a workplace benefit while she waited. The result, she said, showed one copy of the APOE e4 variant, a genetic risk factor associated with Alzheimer’s disease. That result is not itself a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s.
Lowe said she prepared information for the neurology visit because she did not want her concerns dismissed. The report says she received an MCI diagnosis in November 2025. It does not provide clinical records, details of the tests used to reach the diagnosis, or a treatment plan. Being Patient identifies the interview series as sponsored by Eisai and says the sponsor did not choose guests, shape questions or review reporting before publication.
From Caregiver to Patient
Lowe’s account shows how caring for a relative can shape what a person notices about their own memory and how they approach a medical appointment. She said her mother’s experience made some changes feel familiar, while her daughter’s observations also prompted her to seek evaluation. The story illustrates the role of family experience and self-advocacy in this particular diagnostic journey; it does not establish how common similar experiences are.
The distinction between MCI and Alzheimer’s disease matters. The interview reports an MCI diagnosis, not an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Lowe’s reported APOE e4 result indicates a genetic association with risk, but the report does not show that the variant caused her symptoms or predict whether she will develop Alzheimer’s. Her account also raises questions about how clinicians evaluate memory complaints when menopause, sleep and other possible factors may be part of the discussion.
Lowe has spoken publicly about caregiving and brain health awareness in communities of color. In this interview, she also discussed barriers to timely diagnosis and care for Black and brown communities. Those barriers are part of the topics she raised, but the supplied report does not present data quantifying them or establish that they explain her own path to diagnosis.
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Her Mother’s Earlier Diagnosis
Lowe’s mother was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease at age 58, according to the Being Patient report. Lowe had been involved in her care and in decisions about her mother’s well-being for years. That experience provided a personal reference point when Lowe began to question her own memory, but it does not mean the two women have the same diagnosis or medical course.
The interview describes a sequence rather than a full clinical record: Lowe noticed changes, raised them with a primary care provider, sought a neurologist referral, pursued genetic testing while waiting and later received an MCI diagnosis. She also mentioned a recent concussion during the conversation. The source does not specify when the concussion occurred, how it affected her symptoms or whether it factored into the clinical assessment.
Being Patient presented the conversation as part of its “Journey to Diagnosis” series. Its report says Eisai sponsored the series but had no role in selecting guests, determining questions or reviewing the interview before publication. The article is an interview-based account of Lowe’s experience, not a published medical evaluation.
“I knew something wasn’t quite right, and I wanted answers.”
— Shon Lowe, speaking to Being Patient
What the Diagnosis Does Not Establish
The interview does not disclose what clinical tests Lowe underwent, the specific basis for the MCI diagnosis, or whether clinicians identified a cause. It also does not say whether her memory changes have progressed, remained stable or improved. The source does not report a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease for Lowe.
Her reported one-copy APOE e4 result is a risk-related finding, not proof that she has Alzheimer’s or that the variant explains her symptoms. The interview gives no details about genetic counseling or how clinicians interpreted the result alongside other information. It also leaves unclear whether menopause, sleep deprivation, the concussion she mentioned or other factors were considered in her evaluation.
The account is based on Lowe’s interview with Being Patient; the report does not include comment from her clinicians or independent review of her medical records. It also does not give further specifics about the barriers to care she discussed, or what follow-up she has received since the November 2025 diagnosis.
Follow-Up After the MCI Diagnosis
The supplied report does not identify a scheduled follow-up, additional testing or treatment plan, so the next clinical steps in Lowe’s care are not known. It also does not state whether she plans to share further updates. Any new information about her evaluation or health would need to come from Lowe, her clinicians or a subsequent report.
For readers, the account is a personal story, not a diagnostic guide. Lowe’s experience shows that she sought further assessment when she remained concerned, but it cannot establish what a similar symptom means for someone else. The interview’s central development remains her reported MCI diagnosis and her description of the steps she took to pursue answers.
Key Questions
What diagnosis did Shon Lowe receive?
Being Patient reports that Lowe received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment in November 2025. The interview does not report that she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
What symptoms did Lowe describe?
Lowe told Being Patient she noticed forgetfulness, difficulty recalling passwords, putting items in the wrong places and relying on Post-it notes. She also said she was concerned about sleep deprivation. These details are her account, not a clinical assessment of the cause.
What did her APOE e4 test result mean?
Lowe said testing showed she had one copy of the APOE e4 variant, which is associated with Alzheimer’s risk. The interview does not say the result diagnosed Alzheimer’s, caused her symptoms or predicts what will happen next.
Did her mother have Alzheimer’s disease?
Yes. The report says Lowe’s mother was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s at age 58. Lowe said her caregiving experience made some of her own memory changes seem familiar.
What happens next in Lowe’s care?
The interview does not provide a follow-up schedule, treatment plan or further test results. It is not clear what clinical steps, if any, are planned after her MCI diagnosis.
Source: rss
