Key Takeaways:
- Chris Hemsworth’s new documentary, Chris Hemsworth: A Roadtrip to Remember, offers an intimate look at his family’s journey with his father Craig’s Alzheimer’s diagnosis.
- The film explores “reminiscence therapy,” a method that uses past memories to help strengthen neural connections and slow the progression of dementia.
- To trigger these memories, the Hemsworths embarked on a road trip, even recreating the family’s home from the 1990s.
- An expert psychologist featured in the documentary explains that this therapeutic approach can significantly improve cognitive function and confidence in individuals with dementia.
Chris Hemsworth is sharing a deeply personal family story in his new National Geographic documentary, Chris Hemsworth: A Roadtrip to Remember. The film follows the actor on an emotional journey with his father, Craig, who is battling the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease.
The documentary highlights the family’s use of reminiscence therapy, a powerful method aimed at slowing the disease’s progression by unlocking and strengthening old memories.
A Journey to Reclaim Memories
To help his father access cherished moments from the past, Hemsworth and his family embarked on a unique road trip. A pivotal part of this therapeutic journey involved painstakingly recreating the interior of the house where Chris and his brothers grew up in the ’90s, complete with original family photos on the mantle.
“Usually we use albums and songs, but to recreate an entire house like that is unbelievable,” said Dr. Suraj Samtani, a clinical psychologist who consulted on the film. “It’s like reminiscence therapy to the max.”
Dr. Samtani explained the science behind the method, telling PEOPLE, “We know every time we re-access a memory, the connection between the neurons gets strengthened. It’s similar to adding more roads going into a suburb. You have more options to get to that suburb.”
The Power of Adrenaline and Connection
The film documents some heartbreaking moments, such as Craig’s initial confusion and repetitive questions, which Hemsworth noted was the first time he’d seen his father display clear symptoms of the disease.
However, as the therapy continued, Craig’s cognitive abilities showed marked improvement. The father-son duo took a 200-mile motorcycle trip to meet an old friend from Craig’s days wrangling wild bulls in the outback. Dr. Samtani noted that memories rooted in adrenaline and strong emotions can be particularly potent.
“A fear memory, you will actually feel the original fear you felt at that time, and the same with these adrenaline memories,” he explained. “All the memories get unlocked with emotion.”
A Message of Hope
By the end of the documentary, Craig is visibly more confident—laughing, smiling, and recalling key moments from his past. The journey proves to be a success, showing the profound impact of social connection and targeted memory therapy.
Dr. Samtani emphasized that the biggest misconception about Alzheimer’s is that it’s an “end-of-life sentence.” He stressed that it is possible to live well with dementia and that staying mentally, physically, and socially active can effectively slow the rate of cognitive decline.
Chris Hemsworth: A Roadtrip to Remember premieres on November 23 on National Geographic.