Thor star Chris Hemsworth has revealed he hasn’t seen his grandfather, who has Alzheimer’s, for “years” but has heard from other family members that he is “cheerful”.
The Australian actor was speaking to the magazine Vanity Faircoinciding with the release of his National Geographic documentary limitss.
The show explores how the human body can reach its full potential with Hemsworth undergoing “a series of epic tests and extraordinary challenges” to test his physique and intellect, according to the station.
As part of the show, Hemsworth was discovered to possess the APOE4 gene, which means he is eight to ten times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s than someone without it. Only about two percent of people have the gene.
Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia, a degenerative brain disease that eventually affects memories and other mental functions before leading to death.
The Marvel superhero said Vanity Fair that his grandfather was living with Alzheimer’s.
“I haven’t seen him in a few years, but my other family members have and there are days when he’s really happy and gives you a big hug,” Hemsworth said.
“My mom said he’s just a really nice guy.
“I’m not sure he actually remembers much more and he goes in and out of Dutch, which is his original language.
“So he will speak Dutch and English and then a mixture and then maybe other new words too.”
Hemsworth is married to actor Elsa Pataky and they have three children, India, 10, and eight-year-old twins Sasha and Tristan.
“The thought that I won’t be able to remember the life I lived, or my wife, my kids, is probably my biggest fear,” the Thor star candidly shared in an episode of No limits.