Chris Hemsworth Opens Up About The First Signs He Noticed Before His Dad's Alzheimer's Diagnosis

Chris Hemsworth’s new documentary, A Road Trip to Remember, follows a father and son as they retrace meaningful moments from their past while confronting the reality of Craig Hemsworth’s progressing Alzheimer’s disease. The film captures their emotional journey and highlights how the diagnosis has reshaped the family’s understanding of time, memory, and connection.

The Thor actor spoke openly about his family’s experience with the neurodegenerative illness during an interview on Jay Shetty’s On Purpose podcast. While promoting the project, he discussed the early signs they noticed in his dad and reflected on how the diagnosis affected their entire family.

Hemsworth also revealed that during his earlier series Limitless, he discovered he carried two copies of the Apolipoprotein E (APOE) gene linked to a higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Even after learning this, his dad reassured him and encouraged him not to worry, which added even more weight to the news that would come later.

Speaking to Shetty from his home in Byron Bay, Australia, the 42-year-old said: "I remember vividly that conversation of him sort of telling me not to be concerned about it."

"And then about two or three years later, my mom saying to me, 'I think we've got to get dad checked because there are these signs and things I'm concerned about'."

The first signs the family noticed as the disease progressed were some of the most familiar symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s, which made them pay closer attention to the changes Craig was experiencing.

Jay Shetty interviewed Hemsworth ahead of the documentary's release Jay Shetty/On Purpose Podcast

"The obvious one memory and slight mood changes and shifts and forgetfulness and so on," Hemsworth shared, explaining that medical tests later confirmed both of his parents carried the same genetic marker for the condition. This revelation came as a shock and made the family reflect on what it might mean for the future.

This shared genetic trait means all three Hemsworth brothers — Liam, Luke, and Chris — also inherited two copies of the APOE gene. It added a new layer of concern as they processed what their father was facing and what it could mean for them down the line.

At first, Craig brushed off the diagnosis and tried to treat it as “no big deal,” according to his son. But as symptoms became more noticeable, Hemsworth realized they needed to think seriously about doing something focused on brain health, which influenced the idea behind the documentary.

Instead of hiding his diagnosis, Craig embraced the chance to share his experience publicly. He hoped it would “shed some light” on Alzheimer’s and said that he and Chris might “learn something along the way” as they took on the project together.

"He says it in the documentary, but his biggest concern was being a burden. And that was heartbreaking to hear and consider," Hemsworth detailed for Disney Plus. "And I had never even, up until we shot the documentary, I didn't know even how he felt about it, you know, because I hadn't asked him."

Chris Hemsworth and dad Craig at the MotoGP in October (Chris Hyde/Getty Images for AGPC) right

The documentary eventually evolved into a full motorcycle journey, centered around Craig and Chris as they explored the disease and experimented with a bold approach to Alzheimer’s therapy. Their goal was to create something meaningful while learning more about the science behind memory and brain function.

Traveling from Melbourne to the Northern Territories, they tried a form of extreme reminiscence therapy with support from the University of New South Wales. This included visiting and recreating places from Craig’s past in hopes of helping him connect with old memories.

Using their production resources to the fullest, the Hemsworths even rebuilt a near-identical version of their first family home, complete with Point Break posters and old jars of Vegemite, giving Craig a powerful opportunity to step back into a space that once felt familiar.

While this kind of therapy can help people with Alzheimer’s retrieve memories from the past, the documentary also includes several emotional and painful scenes. These moments show the challenges families face while trying to support loved ones with cognitive decline.

During a visit to their old Melbourne home, Craig asked Chris, “Where’s Leonie? She coming?” referring to his wife. Moments later, he repeated the question, and the look on Chris’s face made it clear how heartbreaking it was to watch his dad struggle.

On Shetty’s podcast, Hemsworth explained that caring for his dad has led him to “turn down a lot of things” in order to spend more time with him, showing how deeply the diagnosis has shaped his choices.

He said: "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.' I'm going to say, 'I wish I spent more time with him, and with my mom, and with my brothers, and my wife, my kids, and family, and friends."