The personal lives of heroes are often turned into historical moments by television. This is exactly what happened with Australian actor and Hollywood star Chris Hemsworth while filming the “Limitless” documentary series of “National Geographic.” However, this sweet moment was also bitter.
Alzheimer’s disease altered the course of Australian actor’s life, leading him to believe that he needs to take a break from acting, even though this doesn’t mean that he wants to stop entirely.
Chris Hemsworth will be taking a break from acting after learning he has a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s.
— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) November 18, 2022
His makeup includes two copies of the gene APOE4, which studies have linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease.
(Source: https://t.co/sSAUcpgesA) pic.twitter.com/gMigeRS2ZS
According to an interview Hemsworth gave with Vanity Fair, he plans on taking a lengthy vacation with his family as soon as he completes his press tour for the series “Without Borders.”
Epic night of celebration at the LIMITLESS premiere! Three years in the making and so grateful for all of the amazing people who helped make the show happen. Hope you get a chance to see it! Streaming now on @DisneyPlus pic.twitter.com/y05j9e6NT6
— Chris Hemsworth (@chrishemsworth) November 17, 2022
Discover by chance
“I was honestly quite surprised,” Hemsworth confided when talking about what he expected from the series. He thought it would be ways to improving his live and then help him survive old age, but it ended up being much different than that.
The doctor was supposed to tell him the test results while they were filming, but what the tests showed needed to be communicated to him privately. The doctor then asked him if he wanted to share that information with the audience through the series.
Hemsworth discovered that he has two copies of the APOE4 gene, which is associated with Alzheimer’s disease. This means that Hemsworth is at a high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, compared to a normal person.
The National Institutes of Health published a study in 2021 revealing that 25% of the population carry one copy of the Alzheimer’s gene, and only 2-3% have both genes. Furthermore, his grandfather had Alzheimer’s, making it seem as though all circumstances lined up for him to be genetically predisposed to the disease.
It’s not the end of the world
Hemsworth’s biggest fear, as he stated in an interview with “Good Morning America” staff, is forgetting his life experiences, wife, and children. However, if these genes are discovered early on fortunately, it would give him a chance to lower the risk of disease by living healthier overall; for example, exercising regularly and sleeping enough..
“The idea that I won't be able to remember the life I've experienced or my wife, my kids, this is probably my biggest fear.”@chrishemsworth discovers he has a risk of developing Alzheimer’s eight to 10 times higher than the general population while filming his @NatGeo show. pic.twitter.com/GAx3igKjdj
— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 17, 2022
A positive experience though
Although some people may find his decision dangerous, sympathetic, or at least they will dramatize it, Hemsworth decided to look at it in a positive light and even consider it a blessing. Fortunately for him, he was able to develop a plan to manage potential risks and prevent the crisis from developing further.
In an interview with Vanity Fair, Hemsworth spoke about his aspirations for the future and his fear of losing it. He attributes this newfound perspective to his work on the “Without Borders” series, which he says has made him more appreciative of life. Hemsworth went on to say that he is grateful for opportunities to live a happy life away from the pressures and concerns of everyday life, addiction to social media, and living behind screens.
In the future, if he decides to return to acting, he only wants to choose experiences that joyous. He should feel comfortable with those he’s working with instead of feeling pressure for 4-5 months straight.
