Chris Hemsworth Speaks About Learning Of Dad's Alzheimer's, As He Grapples With His Predisposition

Chris Hemsworth opened up about the emotional impact of learning that his father, Craig, has Alzheimer’s disease and that he himself carries a high genetic risk.

The actor, who recently released the documentary "A Road Trip To Remember,” reflected on how the news shifted his perspective on health, family, and purpose.

Amid these personal challenges, Chris Hemsworth continues to balance his career, including the upcoming crime thriller “Crime 101” and his 12th outing as Thor in “Avengers: Doomsday.”

Chris opened up about the emotional moment he learned his father, Craig, had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

The 42-year-old actor recently released a documentary, “A Road Trip To Remember,” which followed him and his father as they revisited the homes and towns of his childhood across Australia.

During the process, Chris also discovered he carries two copies of the APOE4 gene, one inherited from each parent, placing him at an eight to ten times higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s.

Reflecting on his father’s diagnosis, which has become more noticeable over the past two years, Hemsworth described it as a “real shock to the system.”

Speaking on Jay Shetty’s podcast “On Purpose,” he recalled the initial conversation with his father: “I remember vividly that conversation of him sort of telling me not to be concerned about it."

"And then about two or three years later, my mom's saying to me, I think we've got to get dad checked because there's these signs and things I'm concerned about," he added, per the Daily Mail. “The obvious one's memory and sort of slight mood, changes and shifts and forgetfulness and so on. So he went and got tested.”

Tests confirmed Craig had two copies of the APOE4 gene, as did Chris’s mother. By inheritance, Chris and his brothers, Luke and Liam, also carry the same genetic risk.

“I was immediately hit with the reality of what that meant for him,” the “Thor” actor admitted. “I had just gone through ‘Ah, it's a long way down the track, don't worry, push it aside.’ Then all of a sudden it was right in front of us, and it was confronting, but again, I think ‘we'll figure it out mentality’ was still very prominent.”

He added: “But then, as it began to get worse, it became a real sort of shaking into the moment and a real sort of shock to the system. Everything we thought was solid and true and consistent was gonna dramatically change and shift.”

In a 2022 interview with Vanity Fair, the “Extraction” star explained how learning about his risk affected him and his acting career.

“It’s not like I’ve been handed my resignation,” he noted, adding, “but it really triggered something in me to want to take some time off.”

Chris emphasized the importance of preventative measures, saying, “If you look at Alzheimer’s prevention, the benefit of preventative steps affects the rest of your life."

He continued, "It’s all about sleep management, stress management, nutrition, movement, and fitness. It’s all kinds of the same tools that need to be applied in a consistent way.”

Speaking to Sky News last year about finding out he was a double carrier, Chris reflected on the personal impact: "It was just kind of this point in my life where up until your 40s, you're kind of gathering data and information and it's all reactionary and then you get to a point where you think, oh some of this sort of identity that I've sort of built doesn't hold true anymore.”

He continued: "There's some inner sort of protest or inner voice that has a deeper need to understand, and there's deeper questions and what is the purpose and the why behind what I'm doing ... and what am I seeking, what am I contributing, as opposed to just what I am collecting."

Chris added that the discovery has shifted his perspective, motivating him to focus on healthier living and making the most of time with family and friends.

Amid these personal challenges, Chris is continuing his acting career. He stars alongside Halle Berry in the upcoming crime thriller “Crime 101,” directed by Bart Layton.

The film, based on Winslow’s novel, follows a series of meticulously planned jewelry heists along the Pacific Coast, initially attributed to Colombian cartels, but one perceptive detective uncovers a surprising truth.

In addition to his new projects, Hemsworth is preparing for his 12th appearance as Thor in the next Marvel installment, “Avengers: Doomsday.” The actor has admitted that staying in peak shape for the superhero role is becoming more challenging as he gets older.

Speaking on “The Graham Norton Show,” Hemsworth revealed what his training routine entails.

Asked by fellow guest John Bishop about preparing for a Marvel film, he said, “I keep the momentum up and stay in the zone,” he responded. “I train six or seven days a week for my health and mental wellbeing, and when I am Thor, I just eat more.”

He also acknowledged the physical toll of his workouts at 42, saying, “Everything hurts a bit more now I am 42, but it is fun, and I love it. It’s a blessing to be part of something that has such a following.”