Chris Hemsworth has spoken about his health following the revelation that he is genetically predisposed to Alzheimer's disease. The actor, known for his role in the Avengers franchise, addressed the topic in a new National Geographic documentary titled Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember, which premiered this week.
In the documentary, Hemsworth embarks on a road trip through Australia with his father, Craig, who is in the early stages of Alzheimer's. While trying to help his father, Hemsworth also discussed his own health concerns. Three years ago, during the docuseries Limitless, genetic testing revealed he carries two copies of the APOE4 gene, which increases his risk of developing Alzheimer's.
“This has become a very prominent conversation in my world, because I also have two copies of the gene that puts me in a higher-risk category for Alzheimer's,” Hemsworth said. “But it's not a problem at this point, and it may never be. So I'm far more focused on my dad right now.” He emphasised his intention to focus on the present, stating, “I feel like it’s too far off, hopefully. I'd rather just continue on with life.”
Hemsworth previously addressed rumours that he might retire from acting due to his Alzheimer's risk. In an interview with Vanity Fair last April, he expressed frustration over the misinterpretation of his genetic test results. “It really kind of pissed me off because it felt like I had been vulnerable with something personal and shared this,” he said. “No matter how much I said: ‘This is not a death sentence,’ the story became that I have dementia and I’m reconsidering life and retiring and so on.”
Reflecting on the initial discovery of his genetic predisposition in 2022, Hemsworth recalled being taken aback by the news. The show's longevity doctor, Peter Attia, informed him off-camera, and Hemsworth described it as “pretty shocking.” He added, “It was a really good catalyst to dive into everything I needed to be doing in either the prevention front or the management front.”
