Chris Hemsworth opens up about change he’s made since learning about Alzheimer’s risk

Chris Hemsworth has opened up about the change he’s made to his life since learning about his risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

In the first season of his National Geographic series, Limitless, the Marvel star found out he has a genetic disposition to the brain disorder.

Hemsworth’s makeup includes two copies of the APOE4 gene and studies link this to the star being eight to 10 times more likely of being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease.

The 41-year-old was taken aback by the revelation of his increased risk, which he points out is a ‘reminder of a category’ that he’s in rather than a ‘diagnosis.’

Nonetheless, his experience on the show led to the realisation that he wasn't 'invincible', and he decided to take a break from acting.

In the upcoming second series of the show, Live Better Now, the Thor actor takes on epic challenges to understand how to not just live longer, but better which includes exploring his brain health.

Considering that, Hemsworth spoke to LADbible about changes made to his life.

After learning about his genetic disposition, the star says he became ‘acutely aware of the danger of stress’ on the body but particularly, the brain.

“There’s good stress which is sort of pushing yourself outside your comfort zone, that’s intermittent and then there’s sort of continual dumping of cortisol, which is negative,” Hemsworth says. “Being in that fight or flight state which in this modern world, we tend to find ourselves in far too often and for prolonged periods.”

So, the actor has been ‘trying to navigate that better’ and find ‘more stillness’ in his life.’

He’s also been trying to ‘seek solitude and sort of quieter moments, and not be caught in the continual sort of race’ he felt like he was in.

In the new season, Hemsworth takes on 'brain power' by learning to play the drums for Ed Sheeran. (National Geographic)

Some blew his decision to take a break rom acting out of proportion, with claims that his Alzheimer's risk had made him consider retiring, leaving the star 'p**sed off'. It's clearly not the case anyway, as he's set to return as Thor in Avengers: Doomsday as well as starring in Crime 101 alongside Barry Keoghan.

Continuing to act and as well as trying to manage the stress in his life better, Hemsworth’s learnings from the first season pushed him into a zone of ‘realisation of the fragility of everything but also the beauty of things.’

“And how to really take stock in the important relationships and experiences in life, and have them be purposeful,” he adds.

Hemsworth really put himself through it in the new season. (National Geographic)

“From a more presence space, as opposed to just being kind of inundated with obligation, expectation and ‘what am I doing next?’, requirements and it’s like ‘woah, hang on.’

“So, I think the biggest thing was, I sort of pushed back a little bit on the sort of ride I was on where I felt like I wasn’t in control, I was just being dragged along.”

To help navigate that stress, Hemsworth finds stillness in the ocean and surfing where he finds a ‘reset’ and ‘dispelling of worries and concerns’. Sharing that ‘joy’ and ‘replenishment’ with friends and family gives him a chance to be in an experience where he’s ‘not looking receive anything other than the moment.’

National Geographic’s Limitless: Live Better Now will be available to stream on Disney+ from 15 August.