Does Chris Hemsworth Have Alzheimer's? Here's What We Know

Actor Chris Hemsworth is used to pushing his body to the limits. During the COVID lockdown, he combatted boredom by lifting weights, swimming, and doing martial arts to get huge for his role in "Thor: Love and Thunder." Hemsworth tested his mental and physical limits in his National Geographic show, "Limitless," where he learned how to stay calm while walking to the edge of a skyscraper and plunging into ice-cold water.

While working on "Limitless," he received devastating news. Genetic testing revealed that he has two copies of the APOE4 gene, which is one of the strongest risk factors for Alzheimer's disease. According to the National Institutes of Health, one copy of the APOE4 gene occurs in one in four people, but having two copies of this gene occurs in only about 2 or 3% of people.

Having two copies of the APOE4 gene doesn't mean you'll develop Alzheimer's, but people with this genetic link account for 15% of all Alzheimer's cases. For people with two copies of the APOE4 gene, the chance of developing Alzheimer's before age 85 is 60%.

"It's not a pre-deterministic gene, but it is a strong indication," Hemsworth told Vanity Fair in 2022. "It was a really good catalyst to dive into everything I needed to be doing in either the prevention front or the management front or however you want to classify it."

In a subsequent interview with Vanity Fair in 2024, Hemsworth expressed his frustration about the media coverage of the results of his genetic testing. He stressed that he wasn't retiring and he doesn't currently have dementia. He did admit that he was exhausted after filming 27 movies in about 12 years, not to mention all the work staying bulked up to play Thor.

However, Hemsworth's family also had genetic testing since Hemsworth's grandfather died of Alzheimer's. His father, Craig, is also seeing symptoms of the disease. Hemsworth is now being proactive about his health, working with Dr. Adeel Khan and his regenerative stem cell research, according to Hemsworth's Instagram post. Hemsworth is also the founder of the wellness program Centr to help others live healthy lives.

People with the APOE4 gene can reduce their risk of Alzheimer's by staying active and keeping the brain busy. According to Cognitive Vitality, the Mediterranean diet or other diet that emphasizes omega-3 fatty acids and foods low on the glycemic index can reduce your Alzheimer's risk. Reducing your blood pressure, cholesterol, and alcohol consumption is also recommended for people with the APOE4 gene. A 2021 study in Science Translational Medicine found that the APOE4 gene can cause a buildup of certain fats in brain cells. Adding choline, which is a nutrient found in eggs and other foods, can restore fat balance in these brain cells.