Chris Hemsworth has opened up once again about his family’s heartbreaking battle with Alzheimer’s, as well as his own increased risk of the disease — but says he’s choosing to live in the moment rather than live in fear.
The actor appears in a new National Geographic documentary, Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember, which follows him on a motorcycle journey across Australia with his father, Craig Hemsworth, who has been diagnosed with early-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
But the journey isn’t just scenic — it’s deeply personal.
The goal is to help spark Craig’s memories by revisiting places from their past, including old family spots and childhood locations.
“We know that revisiting past experiences or using objects and places from the past can boost cognition,” explains Dr. Suraj Samtani in the film.
For Chris, that mission hits even closer to home — because three years ago, he learned that he carries two copies of the APOE4 gene, which puts him at significantly higher risk of eventually developing Alzheimer’s himself.
“It’s Not A Diagnosis — It May Never Be”
Hemsworth first discovered his genetic risk during filming for his National Geographic series Limitless, where he underwent a full genetic workup.
The results shocked him. He wasn’t expecting it, and producers even considered cutting it out of the show.
“It was pretty shocking because he called me up and he told me,” Hemsworth recalled. “I didn’t think we were going to find something that intense.”
Speaking in A Road Trip to Remember, Hemsworth says he’s not panicking — but the discovery changed how he thinks about aging, health, and memory.
“This has become a very prominent conversation in my world,” he said. “I have two copies of the gene that puts me in a higher-risk category for Alzheimer’s. But it’s not a problem at this point, and it may never be. So I’m far more focused on my dad right now.”
Talking to his mum, Leonie, he added: “I feel like it’s too far off, hopefully. I’d rather just continue on with life.”
“It Felt Like Headlines Turned It Into Something It Wasn’t”
Earlier this year, Hemsworth spoke to Vanity Fair and said he was frustrated by sensational headlines claiming he was retiring or already facing dementia.
“It really kind of pissed me off,” he said. “The story became that I have dementia and I’m reconsidering life and retiring. That was never the case.”
“This is not a death sentence,” he stressed.
Recreating The Family Home — And Its Memories
One of the most emotional moments in the documentary takes place inside a recreated version of the Hemsworth family’s old Melbourne home.
The production team rebuilt the house exactly as it looked in the 90s — complete with VHS tapes, a chunky computer, old photos, and even an answering machine.
There were clips of a teenage Chris pretending to be a crocodile hunter in khaki shorts.
For Craig, it was a bittersweet blend of joy and confusion. He recognized some things, forgot others, and kept asking when Leonie was arriving, even though she wasn’t supposed to be part of the scene.
Chris looked visibly shaken.
“I think I’m struggling with wondering, ‘Is this going to get better?’” he admitted.
Leonie expressed the heartbreaking reality of being the partner of someone losing memories.
“I want him to still be the person he was, and I want that relationship,” she said. “Sometimes I wake up in the middle of the night, and it can be quite terrifying to think where it’s all going.”
Despite that, Craig found moments of comfort.
“It’s very satisfying recognizing stuff that I hadn’t thought about for a long while,” he said — though he admitted it felt “strange” to be back in a staged version of his home.
Expert Says This Therapy Can Help Any Family
Dr. Samtani reminds viewers that this kind of memory therapy is something anyone can try.
“It can be as simple as listening to old songs together, looking at photos, or playing home movies,” he said.
You don’t need a film set — just shared moments, familiar sounds, and emotional connection.
Hemsworth Is Choosing To Live, Not Worry
Though he knows his own risk, Hemsworth says he refuses to live in fear of what might happen decades from now.
Instead, he’s learning to focus on what — and who — is here now.
“I’m far more focused on my dad right now,” he said. “And I just want to be present with him, for whatever comes next.”
Featured image credit: chrishemsworth/instagram / Marvel
