Bruce Willis' daughter Rumer shares difficult update after undergoing genetic testing for Alzheimer's risk
As her father's heartbreaking battle with dementia drags on, Rumer Willis has taken her health into her own hands.
In an emotional update shared to Instagram on Monday (24 Aug), the 38-year-old admitted she 'really misses' her Hollywood veteran father, Bruce Willis, in light of his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.
Doctors initially believed the Die Hard actor was suffering from aphasia, a condition that affects communication skills. In 2023, however, following further investigation, they found evidence he was showing early-stage dementia.
In the years since, Bruce's family - particularly his wife, Emma Heming Willis, his ex-partner, Demi Moore, and the three daughters he shares with the latter - have kept his fans in the loop concerning his wellbeing.
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This dedication continued this week, when his eldest daughter, Rumer, said in a new video: "I really miss my dad. I miss a different version of who he was. There are some days that are just so hard."
The actress added: "I try to prioritise being present with where he’s at now. The truth is, to be strong is learning to deal with both things at the same time."
In the same post, Rumer discussed the likelihood of being diagnosed with Alzheimer's herself in the coming years.
She revealed she'd recently undergone an APOE genetic test, which identifies which variations of the apolipoprotein E gene she carries, and determines whether or not the mother-of-one is a genetic risk for late-onset Alzheimer's disease.
"I have a 3/4, which is pretty average," Rumer discussed the results. "But it also just means that there is some risk, but it’s not crazy."
It didn't take long for thousands of fans to flood the comments of the clip, either praising Rumer for proactively investigating her Alzheimer's risk, or admitting they, too, miss her A-list dad.
"Sending love your way!" one wrote. "I went thru it with my dad! Being present with love and kindness is your gift to him!"
Another added: "Being a loved one of someone who’s diagnosed with this terrible disease is a constant struggle. It’s a loss that no words can describe.
"Thank you for bringing awareness!"
A third went on: "Thank you for sharing such a hard part of your journey."
"Your great love and commitment to your Dad is truly admirable!" a fourth gushed. "The illness doesn't change his great love for you, Rumer, because it is in his heart."
Rumer also told PEOPLE that her decision to take the test had been spurred by a quest for knowledge about the inner workings of her own body, not just her dementia risk.
"It’s terrifying to get answers sometimes," she admitted. "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.
"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."
Topics: Bruce Willis, Celebrity, Health, Mental Health, US News
Rhianna Benson