Chris Hemsworth, the star of Thor and Extraction, has taken part in a six-part documentary series exploring how we can all live better for longer.
Streaming on Disney Plus, 'Limitless with Chris Hemsworth' from National Geographic, follows Hemsworth as he takes up a gauntlet of physical and mental feats designed by world-class experts, scientists and doctors to unlock different aspects of the ageing process. The aim is to understand the limits of the human body better and discover ways we can all extend health and happiness into old age.
Speaking exclusively to Vanity Fair, the actor discusses how, in episode five, he underwent genetic testing and discovered that he has two copies of the APOE4 gene variant, which is known to increase a person's risk of Alzheimer's disease exponentially.
One in four people carry a single copy of the gene variant, but only two to three percent of the population have both, according to a 2021 study by the National Institutes of Health.
Hemsworth explained that he has not been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, but that having two copies of the gene variant places him in a category of much higher risk for being affected by the condition.
Knowing that he has a genetic predisposition for Alzheimer's disease, Hemsworth discusses how he can begin taking steps to manage the risk, maintain physical and mental health, and perhaps stave off the development of the disorder for as long as possible. He explained: 'I was offered a version of the episode where we didn't talk about it, and… I thought, No, look, if this is a motivator for people to take better care of themselves and also understand that there are steps you can take – then fantastic.'