Nurse With Two Risk Genes Walks

More than seven million Americans currently live with Alzheimer's disease. This statistic equates to roughly one in nine individuals aged 65 or older in the United States. The condition claims a new diagnosis every 65 seconds.

Amy Hamby of Erwin will participate in the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's in Fayetteville on Saturday. She is not a relative of a patient, but the patient herself. Hamby was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's in 2024 at age 59. She lost her father to the disease in 2008. The family called him Poppy, and Hamby will wear a Team Poppy shirt to the event.

Hamby works as a nurse, but she said she did not understand the genetic component of the illness when her father died. She stated that she had no clue he carried the gene or that she would inherit it. She initially attributed her early symptoms to post-viral fatigue, a common experience during the recent pandemic. It took a couple of years before she realized something was wrong.

Testing revealed that Hamby carries two copies of the APOE-4 gene. One copy increases a person's risk of late-onset Alzheimer's by two to three times. Two copies can raise that risk by as much as 10 to 15 times. Hamby is now waiting for approved treatments. She noted that these therapies carry considerable risk for her specifically because of her double gene status, but she believes the potential benefit is worth it.

Daily life presents challenges for Hamby. She sometimes asks her children to repeat questions. She continues to cook, a lifelong passion, and reviews a cookbook of family recipes. She enjoys sharing meals with her family. Since her diagnosis, she has traveled to Raleigh to advocate for legislation supporting Alzheimer's research and care.

The walk begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at Segra Stadium. Registration remains open for participants and supporters. The event aims to bring together families affected by a disease that impacts millions of households across the country.