- Chris Hemsworth is at risk for Alzheimer's
- The actor is taking steps to be proactive about it
- THIS is what he is doing about his health today
Hemsworth is an international superstar, but even so, he still deals with the afflictions of everyday people. After the "Thor" actor learned about his high risk for Alzheimer's disease, he made major lifestyle changes. Hemsworth received the surprising health news last November on his Disney+ series, 'Limitless.'
"Now, I'm incorporating more solitude into my life," he told 'Men's Health' magazine. And while the star has "always been pretty consistent with my exercise commitments," he said that "lately I’ve really felt the importance of taking time for yourself without any outside voice or stimulation and making time for stillness."
Chris is doing everything he can to stay sharp
Hemsworth has kept a strict workout routine for years to keep his body in top shape for several roles. But said he is now incorporating more time for "mindfulness work" which can be even more important for some people. "I do a lot of meditation and breath work mostly during sauna and ice bath routines. For me my favorite mindfulness work comes from the immersion in physical [activities] that allow me to be fully present and force me out of [my] head and into my body, in particular surfing," he explained.
Chris also mentioned that part of strengthening his mind means also making sure that one particular basic need is met: getting enough sleep. For years doctors have warned about the immediate and long-term repercussions of not getting enough sleep.
"I have a more consistent approach to my sleep. I try to stay off screens an hour before bed and read most nights definitely helps. In addition, focusing on not being attached to every thought and be the observer to the noise when possible, just stepping back from the internal chatter." Mindfulness and meditation has become quite a trend for Hollywood actors in recent times.
His diagnosis started his attitude shift
Chris found out about his propensity for the disease in a conversation with longevity physician Dr. Peter Attia. He learned that he is 8 to 10 times more likely than the average individual to develop Alzheimer's disease. "We've got every blood test one can get," Attia tells Hemsworth in the show. "And you've got two copies of APOE4. A set from your mom and a set from your dad."
Chris was visibly shocked when he found out, and wasted no time in taking measures. APOE4 is the gene that has the strongest correlation to the development of Alzheimer's disease, however, not much is known about it. At the time, Attia told the Australian actor, "It's my belief that if we take every step possible, we can reduce your risk to that of anyone else."
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Since then, he has become quite an expert on Alzheimer's research. Hemsworth said in an interview with 'Vanity Fair' that the show was "a really good catalyst to dive into everything I needed to be doing in either the prevention front or the management front."
"If you look at Alzheimer's prevention, the benefit of preventative steps is that it affects the rest of your life," he explained. "When you have preposition to cardiovascular heart disease, cancer, anything— it's all about sleep management, stress management, nutrition, movement, fitness. It's all kind of the same tools that need to be applied in a consistent way."
Friends, family, and fans will be hoping he never goes through that in his life. Those of us who have seen the disease first-hand can attest to its monstrosity. But Chris is in great hands, and he is doing everything right. Besides...he is a superhero!
