Rumer Willis has revealed the results of her genetic testing after opening up about the “terrifying” process in a new interview.
The 38-year-old daughter of Bruce Willis, 70, spoke last week about undergoing an APOE genetic test to determine her risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease, following her father’s 2023 frontotemporal dementia (FTD) diagnosis. Rumer is one of five daughters the Die Hard star shares with ex-wife Demi Moore and current wife Emma Heming Willis.
“It’s terrifying to get answers sometimes,” she said. “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.”
Rumer partnered with Function, a health membership offering advanced lab tests and specialized assessments, to track her health markers. She emphasized that knowledge helps her take preventive action.
“I think when you have information, it’s power,” she went on. “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. That’s why it’s been so amazing to be able to track a lot of those things with Function.”
The House Bunny actress later shared her specific results on Instagram. “I have a three-four, which is pretty average, but it also just means that there is some risk, but it’s not crazy,” she said. “Companies like Function empower you to put the information in your hands.”
Beyond the medical details, Rumer spoke candidly about the emotional toll of her father’s illness. “I miss a different version of who he was,” she admitted.
“There are some days that are just so hard,” Rumer shared. “I try to prioritize 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 viral moment that first brought the family’s private struggle into public view, Bruce Willis stepped away from acting in 2022 after receiving an aphasia diagnosis. The following year, his family announced he had been diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a progressive neurological condition that affects behavior, language and movement rather than primarily attacking memory. The announcement, shared jointly by his wife Emma, ex-wife Demi, and all five daughters, asked fans for prayers and noted the condition currently has no treatments.
Emma Heming Willis has been vocal about correcting misconceptions surrounding her husband’s condition. In June, she appeared on The Bossticks podcast to clarify that FTD differs from more widely understood forms of dementia. “When people say, ‘Oh, you know, does he remember who you are?’ Well, he does because he doesn’t have Alzheimer’s; he has FTD,” she explained. “I think that’s a very common misconception that, when you think of dementia, we think of memory loss.”
The family has continued to raise awareness about FTD while sharing periodic updates on Bruce’s condition.