Hemsworth found out last year that he has two copies of the gene APOE4, which is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease

Chris Hemsworth in New York City on June 12, 2023. PHOTO: 

Chris Hemsworth is making his health a priority.

The Extraction II actor, 40, has revealed that ever since he learned on his National Geographic docuseries Limitless with Chris Hemsworth that he has a greater chance of developing Alzheimer’s disease, he has been focusing more on strengthening his mind.

“Now, I’m incorporating more solitude into my life,” he told Men’s Health in an interview published this week.

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.”

Hemsworth — who has kept a strict workout routine for years to keep his body in top shape for several roles, including Marvel’s Thor movie series — said he is now incorporating more time for “mindfulness work.”

Chris Hemsworth in Thor: Love and Thunder (2022).“I do a lot of meditation and breath work mostly during sauna and ice bath routines,” he explained. “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.”

Hemsworth also told Men’s Health that part of strengthening his mind means also making sure that one particular basic need is met: getting enough sleep.

“I have a more consistent approach to my sleep,” he told the outlet. “Try to stay off screens an hour before bed and read most nights definitely helps.”

Added the actor, “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.”

Chris Hemsworth in Byron Bay, Australia, on Aug. 11, 2023. 

The Thor: Love and Thunder star underwent genetic testing last year for Limitless with Chris Hemsworth, a series that features Hemsworth pushing his body’s limits to beat stress, maximize performance and fight back aging.

The results from the test showed that he has two copies of the gene APOE4, which is linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease, and that he was eight to 10 times more likely to develop the condition in the future.

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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.”

All episodes of Limitless with Chris Hemsworth are available on Disney