Since discovering his familial risk for Alzheimer’s disease, Chris Hemsworth wants to take more time away from the spotlight.
In an episode of his new Disney+ docuseries “Limitless,” the 39-year-old “Avengers” star learned that he had two copies of the APOE4 gene, increasing his risk of getting the degenerative neurologic condition by a factor of eight to ten.
Dr. Peter Attia explains to the Australian actor in episode five (“Memory”) that he inherited two copies of the APOE4 gene, one from each parent. According to Attia, this raises his risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease up to ten times that of the general population. Hemsworth seems to be taken aback by the news, as he straightens up and listens carefully to the doctor’s comments. In a post-event confessional, he describes himself as “floored.”
Dr. Corinne Pettigrew, who oversees recruiting and community involvement at the Johns Hopkins Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center, adds that only around 2–3% of the population has both copies of the gene.
Although he is now in the process of finishing off the task he has been hired to complete, he added, “It definitely sparked something in me to desire to take some time off.” “Now that my tour is over, I am heading home to take some time off and streamline my life. Get some quality family time in with the kids and my wife.”
The Australian actor went on to say that after shooting a death-themed episode of “Limitless,” he was “not ready to die yet.” India, 10, Sasha, 8, and Tristan, 8, are Hemsworth’s and Elsa Pataky’s children.
Damage to brain tissue and the death of nerve cells are hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease. The average age of a person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s is 75+. Medications may help alleviate symptoms or decrease the disease’s course, but they cannot reverse the condition.
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