Chris Hemsworth has revealed his genetic disposition gives him a much greater chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease than the average person.
The Australian actor discovered that he has two copies of the gene APOE4, which gives him an increased risk of developing the neurodegenerative disease while filming his new docu-series Limitless. The 6 episode series follows Hemsworth on trials and challenges in order to understand the limits of the human body. He told Vanity Fair that the doctor testing him had asked to read his results off-camera.
“They took all my bloodwork and did a bunch of tests and the plan was to on-camera tell me all the results and then talk about how you can improve this and that,” he said. “And Peter Attia, who is the longevity doctor in that episode, and overseeing a lot of the show, called [show creator] Darren [Aronofsky] and said, ‘I don’t want to tell him this on camera. We need to have an off-side conversation and see if he even wants this to be in the show.’ It was pretty shocking because he called me up and he told me.”
Genetic makeup can play a part in developing the disease, which can be linked back to Hemsworth’s grandfather who struggles with Alzheimer’s. “I’m not sure he actually remembers much anymore and he slips in and out of Dutch, which is his original language, so he’ll be talking Dutch and English and then a mash-up and then maybe some other new words as well,” the actor explained.
Hemsworth explained that having the genetic makeup leaves him “eight to 10 times more likely” to be struck with Alzheimer’s disease but said that while the news was devastating, it doesn’t necessarily mean he will develop it.
“It’s not like I’ve been handed my resignation,” he said. “It’s not a pre-deterministic gene, but it is a strong indication. Ten years ago, I think it was more thought of as determinant.”
He said finding out about his genetic makeup “made me go, ‘Oh God, I’m not ready to go yet.’ I want to sit and be in this space with a greater sense of stillness and gratitude. And then you start talking about kids and family and going, ‘Oh my God, they’re getting older, they’re growing up and I keep slapping another movie on top of another movie.’ Before you know it, they’re 18 and they’ve moved out of house, and I missed the window. It really triggered something in me to want to take some time off.
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And since we finished the show, I’ve been completing the things I was already contracted to do. Now when I finish this tour this week, I’m going home and I’m going to have a good chunk of time off and just simplify. Be with the kids, be with my wife.”
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