Hollywood Heartthrob Chris Hemsworth Reveals Health Scare and Plans to Slow Down Acting Career
Chris Hemsworth has reportedly decided to take a break from Hollywood film roles after discovering that he is genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease. The Australian actor, who is 39 years old, isn’t retiring from acting; however, he is slowing down and won’t be taking on more roles for now.
According to sources, Hemsworth is currently working on four projects, including a new Avengers sequel, where he will reprise his role as Thor, and an untitled biopic about wrestling icon Hulk Hogan. However, after these projects, he doesn’t plan on taking on many roles due to his high risk of developing Alzheimer’s.
The news of Hemsworth’s generic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease came after he filmed an episode about death for his Disney+ docuseries Limitless. Bloodwork done for the program revealed that he is at higher risk for the illness, as he is one of only two to three percent of people with two copies of the APOE4 gene.
In an interview with Vanity Fair in November 2022, the Thor: Ragnarok star opened up about his reaction to the news, saying that he took it as an opportunity to make positive changes in his life. “If I didn’t know this information, I wouldn’t have made the changes I made. Now I feel thankful that I have the tools to best prepare myself and prevent things from happening in that way,” he said.
His fear of developing Alzheimer’s and forgetting his wife, Elsa Pataky, and their three children has motivated Hemsworth to adopt a healthier lifestyle. “The idea that I won’t be able to remember the life I’ve experienced, or my wife, my kids, is probably my biggest fear,” he said.
Hemsworth’s decision to scale back on acting roles has drawn attention to Alzheimer’s disease, a degenerative brain disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. By speaking out about his own genetic predisposition to the disease, Hemsworth is raising awareness and inspiring others to take charge of their own health.
Speaking of his experience navigating the condition, the Avengers actor hinted that it has been a sort of rude awakening. “Most of us, we like to avoid speaking about death in the hope that we’ll somehow avoid it,” he began.
“We all have this belief that we’ll figure it out. 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,” he added.
