Chris Hemsworth to take break from acting over Alzheimer’s risk 

Chris Hemsworth has said he will take a break from acting after learning he has a heightened risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

The actor told Vanity Fair the tests confirmed his “biggest fear,” adding he will now be trying to take “preventative steps.” 

The Thor star learned he has two copies of the gene ApoE4, one from his mother and one from his father, making him between eight and 10 times more likely to develop the disease than those without both copies of the gene. 

“It’s not like I’ve been handed my resignation,” Hemsworth said, but added the news “really triggered something in me to want to take some time off”.

“If you look at Alzheimer’s prevention, the benefit of preventative steps is that it affects the rest of your life,” he said.

“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.”

He explained that he had not been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, but had been warned of the heightened risk. “It’s not a pre-deterministic gene, but it is a strong indication,” he said. “Ten years ago, I think it was more thought of as determinant,”

Following publicity for his show Limitless and other contracted work, Hemsworth, 39, will be heading back home to Australia to spend time with his partner and their three children.