Chris Hemsworth opens up about early Alzheimer’s signs before dad’s diagnosis

Chris Hemsworth is shedding light on his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis by sharing the emotional signs his family noticed years before it became official. In a new documentary, he takes viewers on a powerful road trip aimed at healing and understanding.

Chris Hemsworth has always been known for his superhero roles, but now he’s showing real-life strength by opening up about his father’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis. In his new documentary A Road Trip to Remember, Hemsworth and his father, Craig, take a deeply personal journey across Australia to confront the disease head-on.

Speaking on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast, Hemsworth revealed how the family first started noticing small but troubling changes in his dad’s behavior. “The obvious one [was] memory and slight mood changes… forgetfulness and so on,” the actor shared.

These early signs, while common in Alzheimer’s, were especially concerning for Hemsworth, who already knew he carried two copies of the APOE gene—something that increases the risk for the disease. He learned this while filming his series Limitless, a discovery that added a personal urgency to his family’s story.

Despite the early red flags, Hemsworth’s father initially brushed off the concerns. But it was Chris’s mother who insisted something was wrong. “I think we’ve got to get Dad checked,” she told him—a moment that marked a turning point for the entire family.

Further tests revealed that both of Chris’s parents carry the genetic markers for Alzheimer’s. This means that Chris and his brothers, Liam and Luke, each inherited two copies of the gene, putting them at higher risk too.

But instead of keeping this private, Chris decided to act. He not only shared his genetic status publicly, but he also took his father on a powerful trip that became the heart of their documentary.

In A Road Trip to Remember, Chris and Craig travel from Melbourne to the Northern Territory, revisiting important places from Craig’s past. With help from experts at the University of New South Wales, they recreate meaningful settings to trigger memories—a form of “extreme reminiscence therapy.”

One emotional moment in the film shows Craig standing in front of a perfect recreation of their first family home. With tears in his eyes, he asks, “Where’s Leonie? She coming?” referring to his wife. When he repeats the question just minutes later, the camera captures Chris’s growing concern.

“He says it in the documentary, but his biggest concern was being a burden,” Hemsworth revealed in the podcast. “And that was heartbreaking to hear.”

The 42-year-old actor also shared how this journey has changed his life priorities. He’s started turning down movie roles to spend more time with his family. “I know I’m not going to get 10 years down the track and go, ‘I’m glad I did those extra three or four films,’” he said. “I’m going to say, ‘I wish I spent more time with [my dad], and with my mom, and with my brothers, and my wife, my kids, and family, and friends.’”

By sharing their story, the Hemsworths hope to raise awareness about Alzheimer’s and inspire other families going through the same thing. The documentary shows that while the disease can be scary, love, honesty, and connection can help ease the burden.

Chris Hemsworth isn’t just fighting for his father’s memory—he’s helping all of us remember what really matters.

If you or someone you love is affected by Alzheimer’s, know that you’re not alone. Share this story to help raise awareness and support others on their journey.