Erwin nurse with double gene risk walks in Fayetteville

The annual Walk to End Alzheimer's returns to Fayetteville on Saturday, drawing hundreds of participants to Segra Stadium.

The event addresses a disease that affects more than seven million Americans, representing roughly one in nine people age 65 and older. A new diagnosis is made in the United States every 65 seconds.

Amy Hamby, a 59-year-old nurse from Erwin, is participating in the walk. She lost her father, affectionately known as Poppy, in 2008. Hamby will wear a Team Poppy shirt in his memory. She received a diagnosis of early-stage Alzheimer's in 2024. Before the diagnosis, she attributed her symptoms to post-viral fatigue, a common concern during that period. She later realized something was wrong after a few years passed.

Medical testing revealed that Hamby carries two copies of the APOE-4 gene. This genetic marker is a major risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's. One copy increases a person's risk by two to three times. Two copies can raise that risk to as much as 15 times. Hamby noted that she was unaware of this genetic link when her father died, despite her nursing background.

Hamby is currently awaiting approved treatments. She stated that these therapies carry higher risks for individuals with two copies of the gene, but she believes the potential benefits are worth the cost. In her daily life, she sometimes asks her children to repeat questions. She continues to cook using a family recipe book and shares meals with her relatives.

Since her diagnosis, Hamby has traveled to Raleigh to advocate for legislation supporting Alzheimer's research and care. She expressed a desire to live fully for her children. The walk begins at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Registration is open to the public.