During the production of the new National Geographic docuseries for Disney+ Limitless, Chris Hemsworth discovered he possesses a significantly higher genetic risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, prompting the 39-year-old Australian actor to step away from the cameras after almost two decades of being a screen fixture.
As some of you may recall reading here on BH, the docuseries in question created and executive produced by the Academy Award-nominated Darren Aronofsky (Requiem For A Dream, Black Swan) sought to unlock the secrets of longevity, i.e. everything from regenerating after damage, maximising strength, building resilience, supercharging memory, to confronting mortality itself.
After several tests and a full bloodwork for the fifth episode – ‘Memory’ – Hemsworth learned he’d inherited two copies of the gene ApoE4 from his parents, effectively placing him among just 2-3% of the population who are as much as 10 times more likely to be afflicted with Alzheimer’s compared to those without ApoE4.
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“Peter Attia, who is the longevity doctor in that episode, and overseeing a lot of the show, called Darren 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,” Chris Hemsworth told Vanity Fair.
“It was a pretty brief conversation, all things considered. I hung up the phone and my parents were there, at the time. They were like, ‘What was that about?’ And I told them, and then they had a bunch of questions. I had a bunch of questions, but no one answered them. I wish I’d had a more intense follow-up with it because I didn’t really know what to think. I was like, ‘Am I supposed to be worried? Is this concerning?'”
But the Marvel Cinematic Universe veteran has reassured the public that this is by no means a hard resignation, simply something that has triggered a desire “to take some time off.” A professional hiatus, if you will.
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“If you look at Alzheimer’s prevention, the benefit of preventative steps is that it affects the rest of your life. 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,” said Hemsworth.
The man also went on the clarify that this is by no means a hard diagnosis: “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.”
“My concern was I just didn’t want to manipulate it and overdramatise it, and make it into some sort of hokey grab at empathy or whatever for entertainment.”
Chris Hemsworth has confirmed his grandfather is currently being treated for Alzheimer’s.
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Having recently wrapped both Netflix’s Extraction 2 and George Miller’s upcoming Mad Max prequel Furiosa, all that’s left on the current docket for Hemsworth is the publicity tour for Disney+’s Limitless; in addition to whatever yet-to-be-fulfilled contractual obligations he owes brands like Tag Heuer and Hugo Boss.
Thereafter, he intends to retreat back to his native Byron Bay, where he’ll spend some quality time with his partner, fellow actor Elsa Pataky, and their three children: India Rose, Sasha, and Tristan Hemsworth.
“I’m going to have a good chunk of time off and just simplify. Be with the kids, be with my wife.”
As for what the future holds for his career, at this stage, nothing is set in stone. In the same exclusive interview with Vanity Fair, Chris Hemsworth alluded to leaving the Marvel Cinematic Universe for good.
“Look, I’m completely open to it, if there is something unique and fresh and unexpected to do with the character and the world… I think there’d be more to say if the people want to hear me say it,” he said.
“I feel like we’d probably have to close the book if I ever did it again, you know what I mean? I feel like it probably warrants that. I feel like it’d probably be the finale, but that’s not based on anything anyone’s told me or any sort of plans.”
“You have this birth of a hero, the journey of a hero, then the death of a hero, and I don’t know — am I at that stage? Who knows?”
