Australian-born Hollywood royalty Chris Hemsworth says his father's early-stage Alzheimer's disease diagnosis has been "confronting and really tough" as he and his family use cherished memories in their battle against the irreversible brain disorder.
"Researchers have long recognised that social connection is nearly as essential to humans as food or water," said clinical psychologist and Alzheimer's specialist Suraj Samtani.
The challenges faced by Hemsworth and his father are sadly not unique, and are a reminder to all of us to "stay connected with our communities, our loved ones, and especially our elders."
Dementia, including Alzheimer's, is the leading cause of death in Australia, with the incurable neurological condition overtaking heart disease as the biggest killer in 2025, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Dr Samtani has been working with the Hemsworths to explore how social connection can potentially slow the progression of dementia, as new research shows promising results for reminiscence therapy.
He appears with the Hemsworth family in Disney+ documentary, Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember, as the pair embark on a motorcycle trip across Australia and explore the effectiveness of the emerging therapy.
Reminiscence therapy involves using memory triggers like photos, music or to help spark long-term memories, and could be effective for improving brain function in people with dementia.
It also does not rely on large doses of drugs or expensive medical devices, and instead, can lean heavily into human connection.
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"A growing body of research, including my own, shows that those connections don't merely bring our lives meaning and joy -- they actually strengthen the brain and slow the development of dementia."
Humans with strong connections to others are thriving, while those who are isolated see their physical and mental health quickly deteriorate, Dr Samtani said.
"Loneliness can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and, of course, dementia."
Dr Samtani's research has found that socialising at least once a week, is also linked to lower risks in all three diseases, and strong social connections can slow cognitive decline.
"Some research suggests that chronic isolation can be as harmful as smoking 15 cigarettes a day," he said.
"Indeed, in late life, social isolation is the biggest risk factor for dementia."
"With my dad's Alzheimer's, we started to notice over the last two years. His short-term memory is not great," Hemsworth says in the documentary.
"It's so easy to take our parents for granted. I feel I've been so busy, I probably haven't spent as much time with my dad as I would want to.
"Now he has this diagnosis. He has early stage Alzheimer's, and there's definitely good days and bad days.
"It's confronting and really tough thing to navigate because there's something about his personality.
"There's ... not a stubbornness, but a real way how he does things, and I'm not sure if he is forgetting things, or is he insisting on doing it this way? Or is this a symptom?
"I want to do everything that I can to help him."
Chris Hemsworth: A Road Trip to Remember is available to stream on Disney+.