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The Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease: Thor and APOE

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Greenwood Genetic Center
The Genetics of Alzheimer's Disease: Thor and APOE

In 2022, Chris Hemsworth, best known for portraying Thor in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, released a show on Disney+ called Limitless. This show explored ways to combat aging and discover the full potential of the human body. However, in episode 5, the mighty Thor himself announced to the world that through genetic testing, he discovered that he had inherited two copies of the APOE ε4 risk alleles that increase the risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. With this information, he decided to take a hiatus from acting. Hemsworth’s revelation has brought much attention to Alzheimer’s Disease and the APOE gene.


Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive type of dementia beginning with minor cognitive issues and progressing into severe and debilitating late-stage impairment. Most cases are late-onset, affecting people who are 65 or older. However, less commonly, AD can occur in younger individuals. The cause of Alzheimer’s disease is not fully understood. There are some changes to the brain – amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles – that can be seen across most cases of Alzheimer’s disease that affect the function of neurons.


However, it is important to know that APOE alleles cannot determine for sure whether or not someone will develop AD. They are simply a risk factor.


While there are no specific recommendations on how to prevent AD, studies do suggest that with an active lifestyle, staying mentally active, and maintaining good heart health, the risk may be lessened.


APOE testing is not currently part of recommended clinical care; however, many direct-to-consumer genetic testing companies do offer this testing as part of their results. If you have testing and an increased risk is identified, you should speak with your healthcare provider or a genetic counselor to better understand what that result means for you.


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