Amy Hamby marches in Fayetteville to defy 15-fold genetic odds

Amy Hamby faces a 15 times higher risk of developing late-onset Alzheimer's disease, a genetic reality she is confronting in public as she prepares to walk the Fayetteville course this Saturday. Hamby, a 59-year-old nurse from Erwin, is one of hundreds expected to gather for the annual Walk to End Alzheimer's at Segra Stadium.

The event addresses a condition affecting more than seven million Americans, or roughly one in nine people age 65 and older. A new diagnosis is made every 65 seconds in the United States. For Hamby, the walk is a personal act of remembrance for her father, whom her family called Poppy. She will wear a Team Poppy shirt to honor the man who died in 2008.

The family did not recognize the genetic link to the illness until years after his death. Hamby stated that she was unaware her father carried the specific gene, nor did she know she would inherit it. "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.

In 2024, Hamby received a diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer's. She initially attributed her symptoms to post-viral cognitive issues, a common explanation at the time. "Then a couple of years later, I thought, 'Something's not right,'" she recalled. Subsequent testing revealed she possesses two copies of the APOE-4 gene. While one copy increases risk by two to three times, two copies can elevate that risk by 10 to 15 times.

Hamby is currently awaiting approved treatments that she describes as risky given her double gene status. She considers the potential benefits worth 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," she said. In her daily life, she sometimes asks her children to repeat questions, but she continues to cook and share family recipes.

Since her diagnosis, Hamby has traveled to Raleigh to advocate for legislation supporting Alzheimer's research and care. "I've got hopefully a lot of years with my children and I want to live life to the fullest," she said.

The walk begins at 9 a.m. Saturday at Segra Stadium. Registration remains open for participants and supporters.