The Rock Has the “Jackpot Gene” that Protects Him from Against Alzheimer’s

Dwayne Johnson just got the kind of news most people dream about hearing—and it has everything to do with how long he might live.

During his in-depth health conversation with Dr. Mark Hyman, The Rock learned that his genetics include the APOE2 gene, often called “the jackpot gene” for its protective benefits against Alzheimer’s and age-related decline.

The reveal came after Johnson underwent a comprehensive health and genetic screening. As part of the evaluation, Dr. Hyman tested for the APOE gene variants—crucial markers for cognitive health and longevity. Dr. Hyman explained the breakdown.

“We were able to look at APOE testing—which is kind of… there’s different varieties. There’s a 2, a 3, and a 4. If you have a 4 and a 4, that’s the high-risk [for Alzheimer’s]. But there’s a lot you can do to actually prevent it. Now we know that Alzheimer’s is preventable—that by intensive lifestyle therapy, you can even slow it down or reverse it.”

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“We looked at that for you because we’re like, ‘Well, are you at risk? And what can we do to proactively prevent that?’ Especially if your kids are still relatively young—you don’t want to be 70 and not remember their names, right?”

Johnson responded with a simple truth. “Right. That’s not fun.” Then Hyman got into the cutting-edge testing they used.

“So we now actually have blood biomarkers. One’s called PTA217—it looks at proteins released into the blood when you have Alzheimer’s. And we can look at that—and if you don’t have that, you’re clean. You combine that with the APOE testing and brain imaging—you get a 360 view.”

And that’s when he dropped the big one: “So we found out—you actually had what we call the jackpot gene.” Dwayne was visibly relieved, repeating it with a grin. “Jackpot gene…” Hyman clarified what that meant:

“The APOE2. That means you kind of live a long time. You know—the people who like smoke and drink and live forever? You’re kind of one of those.”

Johnson leaned in for more details. “Wait a second. So if I’m understanding—you said I have a 2 and a 3?” Hyman responded:

“Yeah—you don’t have the 2/2, which is the true jackpot, but you’ve got a 2/3. So, still very protective.”

Naturally, The Rock had to sneak in a tequila reference. “So, no amount of tequila—?” To which Hyman quickly fired back:

“Well… there is an amount of tequila that can override your genes.”

Johnson cracked up. “Got it. Got it. There’s a limit.”

The moment wasn’t just funny—it was real. Dwayne shared that he’d been concerned about aging and staying mentally sharp for his kids. The news gave him peace of mind—and added extra motivation to keep up the work he’s already doing.

Turns out, even a man built like a superhero still worries about remembering his children’s names one day. And for Dwayne Johnson, those test results were more than good news—they were a personal win for his future.

Would you want to know your genetic risk for something like Alzheimer’s—or would you rather not? Let us know in the comments and tell us where you stand on the science of aging.