Chris Hemsworth Says Reactions to Alzheimer’s Reveal “Pissed Me Off”

Chris Hemsworth has shed some light on his genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease and how the public reacted to the news. During the filming of the docuseries Limitless back in 2022, the renowned Thor actor underwent several genetic tests. The results indicated a likelihood of him being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in the future.

Alzheimer’s, as explained by the NHS, is a progressive ailment marked by symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, disorientation, speech and language difficulties, and even hallucinations.

The revelations made during the show disclosed that Hemsworth carries two copies of a gene closely linked with Alzheimer’s. This means he’s statistically eight-to-10 times more prone to developing the condition.

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Interestingly, the news of his genetic predisposition coincided with Hemsworth taking some time off from work, leading some fans to speculate a connection between the two events. Addressing these reactions, Hemsworth expressed his frustration in a recent interview with Vanity Fair.

He said, “It really kind of annoyed me because it felt like I’d opened up about something personal and shared it, and despite my assurances that ‘This is not a death sentence,’ the narrative spun out of control, suggesting I have dementia and I’m contemplating retirement and such.”

Reflecting on the humorous side of the situation, Hemsworth recounted stumbling upon a witty comment online related to his predisposition: “I did read a really funny comment at the bottom of one article: ‘I hope Chris forgets he’s retiring and comes back.’”

Back in 2022, Hemsworth discussed the matter with Vanity Fair, clarifying that it wasn’t a diagnosis but rather a “strong indication”. “It’s not as if I’ve been given my pink slip. It’s not a deterministic gene, but it does strongly indicate a possibility. A decade ago, it might have been seen as more definitive,” he explained.

While the revelation didn’t confirm a diagnosis, Hemsworth hinted that it may have influenced his decision to take some time off. “It really triggered something in me to want to take some time off… I’m going home and I’m going to have a good chunk of time off and just simplify. Be with the kids, be with my wife,” he disclosed.