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Shon Lowe, 52, was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment in November 2025 after noticing memory changes and pressing for further evaluation. She says caring for her mother, who developed younger-onset Alzheimer’s, helped her recognize warning signs and advocate for a neurology referral. MCI does not by itself establish that a person has Alzheimer’s disease.
Shon Lowe, 52, who spent years caring for her mother with younger-onset Alzheimer’s disease, says that experience helped her recognize changes in her own memory and push for further medical evaluation. Lowe was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) in November 2025, according to an interview published by Being Patient, describing a shift from caregiver to patient that she says has shaped how she approaches her diagnosis.
Lowe told Being Patient that she first noticed forgetfulness, trouble recalling passwords and putting items in the wrong places, including objects that belonged in the refrigerator being placed in a cabinet. She said she began using sticky notes as reminders, and her youngest daughter urged her to get checked. Lowe also raised concerns about poor sleep, which she described as part of what she was experiencing.
When Lowe sought help, she said a primary care provider attributed much of her concern to menopause. Lowe acknowledged that menopause might have had some effect but felt it did not explain the changes she had noticed. She requested a neurologist referral and waited about three months for the appointment, using the interval to gather information and pursue genetic testing through her workplace benefits.
Lowe told the interviewer that the test showed she had one copy of the APOE ε4 variant, a genetic risk factor associated with Alzheimer’s disease. She described the result as upsetting. The interview reports her MCI diagnosis, but does not say that she has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. MCI describes measurable cognitive changes that are greater than expected for a person’s age, while the cause and course can vary.
From Family Caregiver to Patient
Lowe’s account shows how personal caregiving experience can affect what someone recognizes in their own health and how they approach care. Having watched her mother’s illness, she interpreted changes in memory as a reason to seek answers rather than accept the initial explanation. Her story also illustrates the practical role of persistence when a patient believes symptoms have not been fully assessed.
The report is a personal account, not evidence that caregiving experience can determine a diagnosis or that the same symptoms mean the same thing for every person. Still, Lowe’s description highlights why clinicians need to hear patients’ concerns and consider a range of possible explanations for cognitive changes. It also underscores that MCI is not interchangeable with Alzheimer’s disease, and a genetic risk factor alone does not establish that diagnosis.
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The Family History Behind Her Concern
Lowe’s mother was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s at age 58, according to Being Patient. Lowe had been closely involved in her mother’s care and had spoken publicly about caregiving and brain health awareness, particularly in communities of color. That experience gave her a personal point of comparison when she began noticing memory difficulties of her own.
The interview describes a sequence from initial concerns to a primary-care visit, a requested referral, a wait of roughly three months, and further evaluation. It also notes that Lowe discussed a recent concussion and barriers to timely diagnosis and care for Black and brown communities. The supplied report does not provide clinical details about the concussion or establish that it contributed to her MCI diagnosis.
Being Patient identifies its “Journey to Diagnosis” series as sponsored by Eisai and says the sponsor had no role in selecting guests, shaping questions or reviewing the interview before publication. The account is based on Lowe’s recollections in a conversation with Being Patient founder Deborah Kan.
“I knew something wasn’t quite right, and I wanted answers.”
— Shon Lowe, speaking to Being Patient
What Her Diagnosis Does Not Establish
The interview does not provide the full clinical findings behind Lowe’s MCI diagnosis, identify the clinician who made it, or specify what follow-up assessments or care plan she received. It also does not establish the cause of her cognitive changes or whether they will progress. MCI does not by itself confirm Alzheimer’s disease, and the interview’s account of one APOE ε4 copy is a risk-related finding, not a diagnosis.
Some details remain limited, including the nature and timing of Lowe’s concussion, how it factored into her evaluation, and the specific barriers she encountered beyond the initial menopause explanation and wait for a neurologist. The source is an interview rather than an independent review of her medical records.
Further Evaluation and Lowe’s Advocacy
Being Patient’s report presents Lowe’s diagnosis as a new chapter in her experience, but it does not specify a next appointment, treatment plan or prognosis. Any further clinical steps, and whether doctors identify a particular cause for her MCI, remain unreported.
Lowe said her experience has informed her ongoing interest in brain health awareness and access to diagnosis and care in communities of color. Readers with concerns about memory or other cognitive changes should discuss them with a qualified health professional, who can evaluate possible causes; Lowe’s experience cannot determine what another person’s symptoms mean.
Key Questions
What diagnosis did Shon Lowe report receiving?
Being Patient reports that Lowe received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment in November 2025. The interview does not report an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis for Lowe.
What changes led Lowe to seek medical help?
Lowe described forgetfulness, difficulty remembering passwords, putting items in the wrong places and relying on sticky notes. She also mentioned concerns about sleep, and said her daughter encouraged her to get checked.
What did Lowe say about her genetic test?
Lowe told Being Patient that testing showed one copy of the APOE ε4 variant. The interview does not present this finding as proof that she has Alzheimer’s disease.
Did Lowe’s mother have Alzheimer’s disease?
Yes. According to the report, Lowe’s mother was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s at age 58. Lowe said her experience caring for her mother helped her recognize changes in her own memory.
What remains unknown about Lowe’s condition?
The report does not specify the cause of her MCI, her detailed test results, her care plan or her prognosis. It also does not explain whether or how her reported concussion affected the evaluation.
Source: beingpatient.com
