Chris Hemsworth has opened up about why he decided to publicly share that he has a genetic predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease, admitting that he had doubts about whether being so open could change the way people view him as an actor.
talking to the guardian during the press tour for his next film Crime 101The Marvel star explained that the decision was not easy, especially given his former action hero image.
“I was wondering if I was letting people get too far in,” Hemsworth said.
“You’re not going to believe in the action star or the Marvel character anymore? And I want people to know my fears and insecurities to this level?”
Hemsworth first revealed the news in 2022 in an episode of his Disney+ series. Unlimitedwhere a doctor told him that his genetic makeup includes two copies of the APOE4 gene.
Think of the APOE4 gene as a specific version of a “blueprint” for a protein that controls fats and cholesterol in your body.
We all inherit two copies of the APOE gene, one from each parent, but the “4” variant is essentially like having slightly less efficient cleaning equipment in the brain.
While its primary function is to move fat, it is also responsible for removing sticky “gunk” called amyloid that can build up and cause Alzheimer’s.
Having one or two copies of this version increases the statistical risk of developing the disease, but it is definitely not a guaranteed diagnosis.
Many people carry the gene and remain alert into their 90s, especially when healthy lifestyle habits are mixed in, so it’s best to see it as a “warning” from your DNA rather than a final verdict.
At the time, he stressed that the gene was not a certainty, explaining that “it’s not like they handed me my resignation” and that while it is a strong indicator, it is not predetermined.
The topic has become even more personal for the actor in recent years.
His grandfather was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and last November Hemsworth revealed that his father is currently living with the disease.
That reality, he said, has changed his way of seeing life and work.
“My appetite for running forward has really been controlled,” he told The Guardian.
“I’ve become more aware of the fragility of things. You start to think, ‘My dad won’t be here forever.’ And my kids are 11 and 13 now. Those nights where they were fighting to sleep in our bed suddenly don’t happen anymore.”
As a result, Hemsworth said he is slowing down professionally and choosing projects for more personal reasons.
In the past, he admitted, financial considerations often played a larger role. He remembered thinking, “I come from nothing. Who am I to turn down that kind of money?” and justify decisions by focusing on how work could help support their overall family.
This change in priorities was reflected in his documentary 2025. A road trip to rememberwhich focused on his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
Hemsworth described the film as deeply emotional, saying that “it was very personal. It was a love letter to my father. It strengthened him for a period and stimulated memories that were being taken away from him.”
