TL;DR
Turn quiet afternoons into listening time
- Thousands of audiobooks, podcasts and originals
- Listen on your phone, tablet or Echo — also offline
- Cancel anytime
Shon Lowe, 52, says she received a mild cognitive impairment diagnosis in November 2025 after noticing memory changes and seeking evaluation. In an interview with Being Patient, she discussed how caring for her mother, who developed younger-onset Alzheimer’s at 58, influenced her response to those concerns. The interview does not say that Lowe has Alzheimer’s disease or provide further details about her evaluation and care plan.
Shon Lowe, 52, says she received a mild cognitive impairment (MCI) diagnosis in November 2025 after seeking further evaluation for memory concerns. In an interview with Being Patient, Lowe discussed how caring for her mother, who was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s at 58, informed her decision to seek medical attention. She said she requested a neurologist referral after a clinician suggested menopause might explain her concerns.
Lowe told Being Patient that she noticed forgetfulness and changes in familiar routines. She described putting items in the wrong place, relying on Post-it notes, and having difficulty recalling work passwords. Her youngest daughter also encouraged her to get checked. Lowe said poor sleep was another concern, though the interview does not establish what caused her symptoms.
According to Lowe, a primary care clinician initially suggested menopause could explain her concerns. Lowe said she thought menopause might have some effect but did not account for what she was experiencing. She requested a neurologist referral and, while waiting about three months for an appointment, arranged genetic testing through her workplace benefits. She reported that the result showed one copy of the APOE4 variant.
Lowe said the result was difficult for her, particularly given her experience supporting her mother through Alzheimer’s. Being Patient describes the interview as part of its “Journey to Diagnosis” series, sponsored by Eisai; the outlet says the sponsor had no role in selecting guests, shaping questions or reviewing the interview before publication.
Caregiving Experience Shaped Her Response
Lowe’s account describes how her experience with a relative’s illness influenced how she interpreted her own changes and sought care. She said her mother’s experience made some of her memory concerns feel familiar, leading her to pursue evaluation after the initial explanation. This is Lowe’s personal account; it does not show that caregiving determines a diagnosis or that similar symptoms have the same cause in other people.
The interview also describes a difference between Lowe’s concerns and an early clinical explanation. Lowe said she asked for a referral and prepared information before her specialist visit. Her experience may be relevant to caregivers who later seek care for their own health concerns, but the interview does not establish how common these experiences are or whether others would have the same outcome.
Lowe’s reported APOE4 result is distinct from an Alzheimer’s diagnosis: a genetic risk marker is not itself a diagnosis. The central development in the account is Lowe’s reported MCI diagnosis; the source does not say she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.
Products Worth Considering
LEVOIT Vital 200S-P Smart Air Purifier for Large Rooms
Levoit Core 400S-P Smart Air Purifier for Large Rooms
Philips Sonicare DiamondClean 9900 Prestige Electric Toothbrush
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Her Mother’s Diagnosis to Her Own
Lowe’s mother was diagnosed with younger-onset Alzheimer’s at age 58, according to Being Patient. Lowe became a longtime caregiver and has spoken publicly about caregiving and brain health awareness, including access to diagnosis and care in Black and brown communities. The supplied interview excerpt does not provide detailed evidence about those access issues, so they remain topics Lowe has discussed rather than quantified findings in this report.
In Lowe’s account, the steps toward her own diagnosis included raising memory concerns with primary care, requesting a specialist referral, arranging genetic testing while waiting, and preparing information for the neurology appointment. She said the wait for that appointment was about three months. The report identifies her eventual diagnosis as MCI in November 2025, but the provided material does not detail the tests used to reach it.
Being Patient presented the interview as a conversation about Lowe’s diagnosis journey, caregiving experience and a recent concussion. The source excerpt mentions the concussion as a topic but does not give its timing, severity, medical findings or relationship, if any, to her cognitive symptoms.
“I knew something wasn’t quite right, and I wanted answers.”
— Shon Lowe, speaking to Being Patient
Diagnosis Details Still Unreported
The supplied report confirms Lowe’s account of an MCI diagnosis, but does not specify the clinical tests, assessment findings or follow-up recommendations. It also does not say whether her symptoms have changed since November 2025 or what care plan she is following.
The interview excerpt reports one APOE4 copy but does not provide the test documentation or explain how the result factored into her clinical evaluation. The source does not state that Lowe has Alzheimer’s disease. It also leaves open how menopause, sleep, the reported concussion or other factors may relate to her memory concerns; no cause can be determined from the material provided.
Follow-Up and Care Plan Not Specified
The report does not announce a future medical milestone, scheduled appointment or treatment plan for Lowe. The supplied material does not specify her next steps. A later update could provide information about follow-up evaluation and any changes in her symptoms or care needs.
The account is a personal diagnosis report, not a report of new research or a change in clinical guidance. The interview discusses caregiving and access to diagnosis, but Lowe’s experience should not be treated as a general medical conclusion.
Key Questions
What diagnosis did Shon Lowe report receiving?
Lowe told Being Patient she received a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment in November 2025. The source does not report an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis for Lowe.
What changes led Lowe to seek medical attention?
She described forgetfulness, putting items in the wrong place, using Post-it notes and having trouble recalling work passwords. She also said her daughter encouraged her to get checked. These are details from Lowe’s account, not a diagnosis guide.
What did Lowe say about genetic testing?
Lowe said she arranged genetic testing while waiting for a neurology appointment and that it showed one copy of APOE4. The interview does not provide the test report or say that this result established Alzheimer’s disease.
Did the report explain what caused her memory concerns?
No. The material does not determine whether menopause, sleep, the concussion mentioned in the interview, or another factor contributed to her symptoms. It also does not detail the clinical assessment that led to her MCI diagnosis.
Source: beingpatient.com
