Rumer Willis, the daughter of Hollywood stars Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, has undergone genetic testing to assess her risk of Alzheimer's disease following her father's diagnosis with frontotemporal dementia.
The 38-year-old actor has partnered with health testing company Function, which offers more than 160 laboratory tests, imaging and specialist assessments. She said her family's experiences with dementia and breast cancer prompted her interest in taking an APOE genetic test, which can provide information about a person's genetic risk of developing Alzheimer's disease.
“It's terrifying to get answers”
Speaking about her decision, Rumer said: “It's terrifying to get answers sometimes. Obviously there are genetic things in my family. Not just dementia, I've had some family members who have had breast cancer and family members who have had different things.”
She added: “But I think when you have information, it's power. And that sounds so, like, Spider-Man, but when we're able to see, 'OK, maybe I'm more predisposed to this,' you can just start actively working to reduce inflammation in your body, work on heart health, whatever it is.”
Information to share with providers
Rumer also said having access to test results gave her information she could take into appointments with healthcare professionals. She told People magazine: “It also just feels like such an easy way to have information to share with your provider that says, 'Hey, I actually have this data, so you can't gaslight me about what's happening.'”
It was announced in 2022 that Die Hard actor Bruce, 71, was stepping away from acting after being diagnosed with aphasia. His family subsequently disclosed in 2023 that his condition had progressed and that he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, or FTD.
Rare public appearance
His wife Emma Heming Willis, 48, recently addressed what she described as a common misconception surrounding the condition, explaining that Bruce's form of FTD affects language rather than memory.
The stricken star made a rare public appearance this month when he attended the wedding of his daughter Tallulah Willis to musician Justin Acee in Idaho with ex-wife Demi, 63, also present.
