This story has already unfolded billions of times throughout history. It’s a true story that’s terrifying and mysterious. And it’s likely a story that you will be involved in – directly or indirectly – at some point of your life. You, or a loved one will have to prepare to lose your mind.
For actor Chris Hemsworth, his story is just starting. While filming Limitless, a docuseries about mental and physical longevity, he discovered an unfortunate gift from his parents: the gene Apoe4, which was passed on to him by both his mother and father.
About a quarter of the general population carries one copy of the Apoe4 gene, while 2-3% carry two copies. Hemsworth, who just found out he carries two copies of the gene, is now 8-10 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease.
Since this discovery, which he opened up about in a recent Vanity Fair interview, he’s starting to take action about the way he’ll now be living his life. In addition to having a whole new perspective, he’s considering physical and mental exercises that could aid in preventing the disease.
How Would You Prepare to Lose Your Mind?
It all depends, right? Typically, when it comes to Alzheimer’s disease, symptoms set in after age 65. Any symptoms before that age, would be considered early-onset Alzheimer’s.
Hemsworth, who is 39 years old, likely has a couple decades before any Alzheimer’s effects set in. That is, of course, if he isn’t able to stave off the disease.
Source: CDC
Alzheimer’s, which is a neurodegenerative disease and accounts for over 60% of all dementia cases, has a life expectancy of 3-9 years after diagnosis. Hemsworth’s recent findings are not a diagnosis. Instead, the results from his blood test simply indicate that he’s much more likely than others to develop the disease.
Diagnosis or not, getting information that your body is likely to develop a life ending disease would give anyone a lot to think about. Especially if there are ways to increase the odds of survival.
Prepare to Lose Your Mind by Fighting Back
Despite’s Chris Hemsworth’s foreboding health forecast, he does have a big advantage: early warning. Unlike our current healthcare system, which operates in a reactionary fashion, Hemsworth has the opportunity to become proactive.
This opportunity, brought on by early detection, is what will become available to many more people around the world. At-home DNA tests, which are increasingly leveraging epigenetic technology, can give incredible insights to our bodies in near real-time.
For example, AgeRate‘s at-home test measures thousands of epigenetic biomarkers to give you a comprehensive picture of how well your cells are functioning and compares your real age with your biological age. Then, the company matches you to a health professional and provides real data and insights, so you can take action with your health.
As a result, proactive healthcare is becoming more attractive as a tool to combat life threatening diseases and other age-related ailments. Interestingly, many of these proactive treatments use both modern and ancient medicine and techniques.
While it’s clear that proactive care can be effective to prevent age-related diseases, motivation to become proactive rarely occurs without a diagnosis. This begs the question: How can people be persuaded to act on something that hasn’t happened yet?
The Longevity Opportunity
Over the next 20 years, the 65 and over population will double in the United States. If current health trends continue, that also means that there will be an enormous drag on our healthcare systems and economy.
Dementia alone is projected to cost the world nearly $3 trillion per year. These expenses are attributed to loss of productivity, cost of care, and demand on healthcare providers.
Entrepreneurs and investors should notice that finding solutions to these age-related challenges will offer enormous rewards – both for humanity and monetarily.
Investors can start getting involved now in public companies or private companies. Entrepreneurs will have a much more challenging time, but will be offered far greater rewards. Specifically, entrepreneurs who can figure out ways to persuade the general public to take proactive healthcare measures will see enormous success.
