Chris Hemsworth says response to Alzheimer’s reveal “pissed me off”

nme.com:

Chris Hemsworth has opened up about his genetic predisposition for Alzheimer’s disease, and the public reaction to the news.While working on the docuseries Limitless in 2022, the Thor star took a number of genetic tests, which revealed that he is likely to be diagnosed with the disease.According to the NHS, Alzheimer’s is a progressive condition, with symptoms mainly including memory loss, confusion, disorientation, problems with speech and language, and hallucinations.The show revealed that Hemsworth carries two copies of a gene closely associated with Alzheimer’s, meaning he is eight-to-10 times more likely to suffer from the condition.The news reportedly coincided with the actor taking some time off, which led some fans to believe the two were connected.

Now, in a new interview with Vanity Fair, Hemsworth has opened up about the experience.“It really kind of pissed me off because it felt like I had been vulnerable with something personal and shared this,” he 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.”Hemsworth then recalled seeing a witty comment online related to the news of his predisposition: “I did read a really funny comment at the bottom of one article: ‘I hope Chris forgets he’s retiring and comes back.’”Back in 2022, the actor discussed the news with Vanity Fair, explaining how it was not a diagnosis but a “strong indication”.“It’s not like I’ve been handed my resignation.