The actor has been filming a new series for Disney.
Chris Hemsworth has announced he will be taking a "good chunk of time" away from acting after making a shocking health discovery while filming his new show Limitless.
The new docu-series, just released on Disney+, sees the Aussie actor exploring different ways humans can live longer and healthier lives.
During an interview with Vanity Fair, the Thor star explained that he underwent a test that showed he had two copies of the gene APOE4, which has been linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
Hemsworth explained: “They took all my blood-work and did a bunch of tests and the plan was to on-camera tell me all the results and then talk about how you can improve this and that.
“And Peter Attia, who is the longevity doctor in that episode, and overseeing a lot of the show, called [Limitless creator] Darren [Aronofsky] and said, ‘I don’t want to tell him this on camera. We need to have an off-side conversation and see if he even wants this to be in the show.’
“It was pretty shocking because he called me up and he told me," Hemsworth added.
The series producers apparently offered to cut the scene about the actor's diagnosis out of respect for his privacy, but he insisted that they leave it in as a "motivator" to others.
He continued: "It’s not a pre-deterministic gene, but it is a strong indication. 10 years ago, I think it was more thought of as determinant."
He then said he is "eight to 10 times more likely" to have Alzheimer’s disease in the future. There is a history of Alzheimer's in his family as well, while Hemsworth’s grandfather is currently suffering from the disease.
In the final episode of the series, Hemsworth looks at the topic of end-of-life treatment, and interviews people who work in palliative care.
Being involved in the show made him realise that he wants to spend more time with his family.
He explained: “It really triggered something in me to want to take some time off.
“And since we finished the show, I've been completing the things I was already contracted to do. Now when I finish this tour this week, I'm going home and I'm going to have a good chunk of time off and just simplify. Be with the kids, be with my wife.”
You can watch Limitless now on Disney+.
