Thor star Chris Hemsworth has returned from a short break after being told devastating health news. The Hollywood star is only now properly returning to his media duties, including recently taking part in publicity interviews for his new Netflix film Extraction 2.
Hemsworth took time out in November, heading home to Byron Bay in New South Wales, Australia, for months after the filming of National Geographic's Limitless. The new docuseries focuses on pushing back on the natural decline that comes with time and aging.
During filming, Hemsworth underwent an array of genetic tests to see if he was genetically predisposed to develop any age-related conditions. After receiving the results, the Aussie actor said what he discovered was his "biggest fear".
Hemsworth's DNA includes two copies of the gene APOE4, one from his mother, the other from his father, which studies have linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer's disease. Only two to three per cent of the population have two copies, according to a 2021 study by the National Institutes of Health.
Though it's not a pre-deterministic gene, it is a strong indication that he may develop the disease. According to the NHS, Alzheimer's disease is a progressive condition, which means the symptoms develop gradually over many years and eventually become more severe. It affects multiple brain functions. The first sign of Alzheimer's disease is usually minor memory problems.
How Hemsworth discovered Alzheimer's DNA risk
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Hemsworth explained how he learned of his increased risk of developing Alzheimer's. Describing the event, he said: "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.
"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."
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Since his diagnosis, Hemsworth has put increased efforts into everything which has been proven to reduce your risk of developing Alzheimer's. He said: "It's all about sleep management, stress management, nutrition, movement, fitness. It's all kind of the same tools that need to be applied in a consistent way."
