Nurse with double gene risk walks in father's honor

Amy Hamby will walk the Fayetteville course on Saturday despite carrying two copies of the APOE-4 gene, a genetic marker that raises the risk of late-onset Alzheimer's by up to 15 times. The Erwin resident is participating in the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's, an event expected to draw hundreds of participants to Segra Stadium at 9 a.m.

Hamby, a nurse who was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's in 2024 at age 59, is walking to honor her father, whom the family called "Poppy." He died in 2008. At the time of his death, Hamby said the family did not understand the genetic nature of the illness. "I had no clue, even as a nurse, which sounds pretty dumb, but I had no clue that he carried the gene and that I would end up carrying the gene as well," she said.

Before her diagnosis, Hamby attributed her symptoms to "COVID brain fog," a common explanation during that period. It was only after a couple of years that she felt something was wrong and sought testing. The results confirmed she has two copies of the APOE-4 gene. One copy increases risk by two to three times, while two copies can elevate that risk by 10 to 15 times.

Hamby is currently waiting for approved treatments. She acknowledges these therapies carry considerable risk for her due to her genetic profile but believes the benefit outweighs the danger. "I am waiting for treatment, so if I can get those approved treatments are pretty risky for me because I have two copies of the gene, but it's worth it," Hamby said.

In daily life, Hamby sometimes asks her children to repeat questions. She continues to cook, a lifelong passion, and recently flipped through a cookbook of family recipes that trigger fond memories. She also travels to Raleigh to advocate for legislation supporting Alzheimer's research and care.

The disease affects more than seven million Americans, roughly one in nine people age 65 and older. A new diagnosis is made in the United States every 65 seconds. Registration for the Saturday walk remains open for those who wish to participate or offer support.

Hamby plans to wear a Team Poppy shirt during the event. She says she wants to live life to the fullest while she has years left with her children.