Chris Hemsworth slams headlines about his having Alzheimer's disease

Original source (on modern site) | Article images: [1]

Chris Hemsworth is here to set the record straight regarding his health.

And, for those hoping that the retirement rumors are true, try not to hold your breath.

During an interview with Vanity Fair, the 40-year-old "Thor" star opened up about his irritation with headlines surrounding his predisposition to Alzheimer's disease coupled with rumors that he was retiring from acting.

Alzheimer's is a progressive condition, with such symptoms as memory loss, confusion, disorientation, problems with speech and language, and hallucinations, according to NHS.

The Australian actor appears on the cover of Vanity Fair's May issue and revealed, "It really kind of pissed me off because it felt like I had been vulnerable with something personal and shared this," Hemsworth said.

"No matter how much I said, 'This is not a death sentence,' the story became that I have dementia and I'm reconsidering life and retiring and so on," he continued.

The Hollywood star went on to explain that he hasn't given up on Hollywood.

Even though the Marvel Cinematic Universe actor voiced his frustration about the misleading headlines, Hemsworth did manage to find something humorous about it.

"I did read a really funny comment at the bottom of one article: 'I hope Chris forgets he's retiring and comes back.'"

While working on the National Geographic docuseries "Limitless" in November 2022, the Australian actor took a number of genetic tests, which revealed that he's likely to be diagnosed with Alzheimer's. The actor later opened up about the predisposition to Vanity Fair.

On the series, the show revealed that Hemsworth carries two copies of the gene APOE4, meaning he's eight-to-10 more times likely to suffer from the condition in the future.

"It's not like I've been handed my resignation. It's not a pre-deterministic gene, but it is a strong indication. Ten years ago, I think it was more thought of as determinant," he said.

This coincided with the actor taking some time off, where he was focusing more on "mindfulness work" and "making time for stillness," which led fans to believe the two reports to be connected, and further led fans to believe the retirement rumors altogether.

Hemsworth tried to end those rumors last June when he explained he took a break because he was "exhausted and wanted to be home with his family."

The "Extraction" actor lives with his wife, Elsa Pataky, and their three children in Byron Bay in New South Wales, Australia.

"It was interesting, because those two headlines got coupled together, that I was taking time off because of the genetic predisposition to Alzheimer's," he said to Entertainment Weekly at the time. "That experience and that show [Limitless] made me go, 'Oh wow, none of us are invincible.' It kind of slams you into the moment."

"You start asking bigger questions, and you think, 'I need to slow down and just experience this moment now and not have the years race by,'" Hemsworth continued.

"It was a positive in that sense, but it got a little over-dramatized, like I was potentially retiring because of this thing. Which just isn't the case," He added.

• Apple unveils 14 new iOS 18 features, including eye tracking integration
• ESPN, Fox, Warner Bros. join forces to create massive streaming sports venture
• Avril Lavigne sets record straight about body double conspiracy theory

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.