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Actor Chris Hemsworth is speaking out about recently learning that he is predisposed to Alzheimer's disease during the production of his NatGeo series Limitless.
The docuseries explores the perceived limits of the human body and ways humans can live better and longer. One episode saw Hemsworth taking a series of blood tests and then learning the results on-camera.
It was during the filming of this episode that he learned his genome includes two copies of the gene APOE4, giving him an eight- to ten-times higher chance of eventually developing Alzheimer's, a neurodegenerative disease that slowly degrades memory, speech and motor skills.
See a clip of Hemsworth learning the news below.
\u201c\u201cThe idea that I won't be able\u00a0to remember the life I've\u00a0experienced or my wife, my kids,\u00a0this is probably my biggest\u00a0fear.\u201d\n\n@chrishemsworth discovers he has a risk of developing Alzheimer\u2019s eight to 10 times higher than the general population while filming his @NatGeo show.\u201d— Good Morning America (@Good Morning America) 1668691247
In the clip, Hemsworth spoke candidly of how learning the difficult news made him feel:
“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.”
He elaborated on this in a recent Vanity Fair interview, in which he said:
“Most of us, we like to avoid speaking about death. Then to all of a sudden be told some big indicators are actually pointing to this as the route which is going to happen, the reality of it sinks in. Your own mortality.”
But Hemsworth is also taking the news as a directive to live as full and healthy a life as he possibly can, as he told George Stephanopoulos during an appearance on Good Morning America.
\u201c\u201cIt very quickly became another\u00a0wonderful motivation to make\u00a0some changes and arm myself with\u00a0all the tools to live a\u00a0healthier, better life.\u201d \u2014 @chrishemsworth on learning about his risk of developing Alzheimer's disease during his @NatGeo show, #LimitlesswithChrisHemsworth.\u201d— Good Morning America (@Good Morning America) 1668691280
Hemsworth told Stephanopoulos:
“It very quickly became another wonderful motivation to make some changes and arm myself with all the tools to live a healthier, better life.”
Hemsworth has also revealed that his grandfather is currently living with Alzheimer's, and described to Vanity Fair how it has affected him.
"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."
On Twitter, many were deeply moved by Hemsworth's candor about his situation.
\u201cIt's extremely sad to know that Chris Hemsworth suffers from a genetic condition that makes him 8 to 10 times more prone to Alzheimer's disease than an ordinary person. Let's hope the best future for him \ud83e\udd70\ud83e\udd70.\u201d— Jeet Laha (he/him \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3 \ud83d\udd49) Wakanda Forever era (@Jeet Laha (he/him \ud83c\uddee\ud83c\uddf3 \ud83d\udd49) Wakanda Forever era) 1668712519
\u201cThis part broke my heart for him... I hope he enjoys his family and makes great memories he will always have!\u201d— Heather \ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\udf41\ud83c\udf42\ud83c\udf83 (@Heather \ud83c\udf3b\ud83c\udf41\ud83c\udf42\ud83c\udf83) 1668789850
\u201c@Variety You\u2019re still young you still got a lot of life to live. Don\u2019t let this pre-diagnosis stop you from that.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1668788640
\u201cWow\u201d— 3-6 (@3-6) 1668795757
\u201cThank you @chrishemsworth (THOR) for raising awareness about your own personal connection to Alzheimer's #ENDALZ\u201d— David Cook (@David Cook) 1668729325
\u201cMy mom has Alzheimer\u2019s and has been dealing with it for the past (about) five years or so. Meaning I probably have the same genetic predisposition to it. Much love to Chris Hemsworth. \u2764\ufe0f\u201d— Greg Atlas (@Greg Atlas) 1668796710
\u201coh man this is sad and so scary\u201d— ROMAN ROY APOLOGIST (@ROMAN ROY APOLOGIST) 1668793165
\u201cThat must be so scary, but it sounds like he feels able to make informed decisions for his health equipped with this knowledge, and that's all you can do. Wishing him the best\u201d— witch house incorporated (@witch house incorporated) 1668794382
\u201c@CBSNews Hopefully a cure for Dementia/alzheimer's is found soon. I've lost more than a cpl loved one's to that horrible fate and wouldn't wish that on an enemy.\u201d— CBS News (@CBS News) 1668776401
Learning of his predisposition has also inspired Hemsworth to share some perspective with his fans:
"Live with as big a sense of gratitude and love for life as you can. You don't know when your time's up, you don't know what tomorrow holds, so live it to its fullest."
Solid advice.