Woman Says Covid Infection Triggered Mom's Fatal Brain Disorder

Shirley Rowe seemed to be showing the signs of age at first, but her health deteriorated rapidly following a rare diagnosis. Jillian Cohen, 43, always had a special relationship with her mom, Shirley Rowe. From leading her daughter's Girl Scout group, sewing sequins onto her dance costumes, running the book fair at school, and driving her everywhere from music lessons to sports training sessions, Rowe was present for it all.

Cohen tells Newsweek that her mom was a "creative and deeply empathetic person" who always gave her all to any task. Sadly, Rowe passed away on May 7, 2025, at the age of 71 from a rare brain disorder that leads to dementia symptoms and causes rapid deterioration. Cohen, of Savannah, Georgia, noticed the first warning sign on Christmas Day 2024. The family gathered at Rowe's home, and though she had always been sharp and focused, something about the 71-year-old seemed off that day.