Chris Hemsworth is world-famous as Marvel’s Thor, but his latest project takes him off-screen on a personal mission of memory, family, and connection.
In the one-hour documentary Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember, premiering November 23 on National Geographic and streaming the next day on Disney+, Chris and his father, Craig, who was recently diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, embark on a road trip across Australia.
Where does Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember take place?
Travelling by motorcycle, the pair revisit childhood homes and meaningly places in their family’s history.
“My Dad and I had always spoken about taking a trip back to the Northern Territory, where our family had lived years ago, but we had never been able to set aside the time to actually do it,” said Chris in a statement.
“More recently, the idea of taking that road trip reemerged with more pressing importance. The result was a more profound, more moving, and more surprising journey than I ever anticipated.”
What does Chris Hemsworth’s documentary explore?
This latest documentary from Chris Hemsworth builds on his Limitless documentary series. During that series, he explored ways to live better physically and mentally. That includes brain-boosting challenges, like performing “Thinking Out Loud” with Ed Sheeran before 70,000 fans.
A Road Trip to Remember goes further with the added father-son adventure, plus it’s a journey grounded in science.
Guided by dementia specialist Dr Suraj Samtani from the University of New South Wales Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, the documentary explores the benefits of social connection, community, and nostalgia in protecting brain health.
Craig Hemsworth and Chris Hemsworth attend the “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga”, May 15, 2024 in Cannes, France. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale – Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)
Dementia now ranks as the leading cause of death in Australia, affecting more than 57 million people worldwide, with 10 million new cases every year. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form.
This latest documentary from Chris Hemsworth and his father brings these sobering facts to life while showing that meaningful connection can make a real difference for those living with dementia. As well as their loved ones.
How can you fight dementia?
A global study of more than 40,000 people across 14 countries found that maintaining regular social interactions can cut the risk of dementia in half. Strong social connections can even slow cognitive decline after diagnosis.
“Social connections slow down cognitive decline even for people who have been already diagnosed with dementia,” Dr Samtani says in the film. “Because social isolation is actually the biggest risk factor for dementia in late life, we should be screening for that.”
The documentary highlights three key approaches:
- Reminiscence Therapy: Revisiting past experiences through conversations, photos, videos, or meaningful locations to boost cognition.
- Social Connection: Daily interactions with friends or confidantes to support emotional and brain health.
- Social Bridging: Participating in wider community activities, such as volunteering or group walks, is linked to slower rates of cognitive decline.
There’s no cure for dementia. Despite this, researchers around the world are working towards treatments to stop it in its tracks. Read more here.
The Australian Women’s Weekly
Orlaith Costello
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