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Chris Hemsworth is set to appear in a new National Geographic docuseries titled Limitless. The new release will explore the natural process of ageing in a bid to push back for many more years of physical and mental wellbeing. In one episode Hemsworth undertakes a series of genetic tests which led to a diagnosis that he says was “my biggest fear”.

Speaking to Vanity Fair this week, the Thor star revealed he received a “warning” from doctors revealing he was eight to 10 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s Disease in the future.

“Most of us, we like to avoid speaking about death in the hope that we’ll somehow avoid it,” he told the publication in relation to the unsettling outlook. “We all have this belief that we’ll figure it out. Then to all of a sudden be told some big indicators are actually pointing to this as the route which is going to happen, the reality of it sinks in. Your own mortality.”

Hemsworth says the results aren’t exactly surprising as his grandfather has Alzheimer’s. “I’m not sure he actually remembers much anymore and he slips in and out of Dutch, which is his original language, so he’ll be talking Dutch and English…”

The 39-year-old was given the option of not including the results in the upcoming docuseries but chose to feature it as a “motivator” for people take better care of themselves. “My concern was I just didn’t want to manipulate it and overdramatise it, and make it into some sort of hokey grab at empathy or whatever for entertainment,” he added.

Alzheimer’s Disease is the most common type of dementia and can be developed in anyone, more likely in older age. According to Dementia Australiait can be inherited due to a genetic mutation. The World Health Organisation reports that 55 million people globally are living with dementia.

Limitless is now streaming on Disney+.