Bruce Willis and his daughter Rumer Willis attend the premiere of "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" in Hollywood on March 28, 2013. [Getty Images]
Bruce Willis and his daughter Rumer Willis attend the premiere of "G.I. Joe: Retaliation" in Hollywood on March 28, 2013. [Getty Images]

Rumer Willis, 38, the daughter of Hollywood star Bruce Willis, said she underwent genetic testing to assess her own risk of developing dementia after her father's diagnosis.

According to USA Today and other outlets, Rumer said Monday (local time) that she partnered with healthcare company Function to take an APOE gene test, which measures a person's risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and dementia, and shared the results on social media.

Bruce Willis, 71, who won global audiences through action films including the "Die Hard" franchise, has been living with frontotemporal dementia, or FTD.

The Willis family announced in February 2023 that the aphasia he had been diagnosed with the previous year had progressed to frontotemporal dementia, a condition affecting the brain regions responsible for personality, language and behavior.

Rumer said she decided to take the APOE test "because of family history," calling it "clearly an important issue."

On her results, she said: "My APOE score is 3-4, which is average — it means there is some risk, but it's not extremely high."

She added, "There are clearly genetic factors within our family — not just dementia, but family members who have had breast cancer and other conditions."

On the value of genetic testing, she said, "Having information is really empowering. If you find out you may be more susceptible to certain things, you can start taking active steps — reducing inflammation, improving heart health, whatever is needed."

According to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration, FTD tends to affect people at a relatively younger age compared with Alzheimer's disease. Bruce Willis received his diagnosis at 67.

In a video posted to social media, Rumer said, "I really miss my dad. I miss who my dad was so much."

"Some days are really hard, but I try to focus on who he is now," she said. "Being strong really means learning to hold both of those feelings at the same time."

Rumer is the eldest daughter of Bruce Willis and his ex-wife Demi Moore, 63, and has appeared in films including "American Escort," "Hello Again" and "Return to Sender."


jshan@heraldcorp.com