Nurse with two APOE-4 copies walks Fayetteville course

Amy Hamby will walk the Fayetteville course on Saturday with two copies of the APOE-4 gene, a genetic marker that raises her risk of late-onset Alzheimer's by as much as 15 times.

Hamby, a 59-year-old nurse from Erwin, was diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer's in 2024. She attributes her late diagnosis to mistaking early symptoms for post-pandemic cognitive fatigue. "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. Her father, whom the family called Poppy, died in 2008.

The genetic risk is quantifiable in medical literature. Carriers of one APOE-4 copy face a two to three times higher risk of developing the disease. Those with two copies, like Hamby, see that risk increase by 10 to 15 times. She is currently waiting for approved treatments, acknowledging that the therapies carry considerable side effects for patients with her specific genetic profile. "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.

Daily life involves adjustments. Hamby sometimes asks her children to repeat questions. She continues to cook, flipping through a cookbook of family recipes that provide comfort and connection. She cites these shared meals as a core part of her routine. Since her diagnosis, she has traveled to Raleigh to advocate for legislation supporting Alzheimer's research and care.

The annual Walk to End Alzheimer's is scheduled for Saturday at 9 a.m. at Segra Stadium in Fayetteville. Hundreds of participants are expected to attend the event. Registration remains open for those wishing to join or show support. 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.