Actress Rumer Willis has undergone advanced genetic testing, including the APOE marker test linked to Alzheimer’s disease risk, after watching her father, Bruce Willis, navigate his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis, according to interviews with PEOPLE.
The 38-year-old actress partnered with the health membership platform Function to complete the screenings. Her results returned showing an average risk. The decision comes during a challenging period for the family following Bruce Willis’s 2023 frontotemporal dementia diagnosis and his earlier retirement from acting due to aphasia.
Genetic Testing and Family Health History
Rumer Willis acknowledged that the process of seeking genetic data carried emotional weight. According to PEOPLE, she stated that obtaining concrete answers about hereditary risks can be frightening. Beyond frontotemporal dementia in her immediate family, she noted other family medical histories involving breast cancer. Despite those concerns, she pursued the screenings to gain actionable information, emphasizing that knowledge offers a sense of control for her future as a single mother to her three-year-old daughter, Louetta.
Navigating Grief and Family Presence
The health developments have shifted how the family approaches daily life. According to social media statements cited by PEOPLE, Rumer Willis shared that she deeply misses her father and the dynamic they once shared. She emphasized the importance of staying present with him in his current condition, noting in her interview with PEOPLE that moments of love, joy, and tenderness remain, and that her father still smiles when he sees her and her daughter.
Did You Know?
The APOE genetic test specifically looks at variations of the apolipoprotein E gene, which are known to influence an individual’s genetic risk for developing late-onset Alzheimer’s disease, though it does not provide a definitive diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What specific genetic test did Rumer Willis take?
Rumer Willis took the APOE genetic test, a marker linked to Alzheimer’s disease risk, through the health membership platform Function.
What were the results of Rumer Willis’s genetic test?
Her test results returned showing an average risk.
What diagnosis does Bruce Willis have?
According to PEOPLE, Bruce Willis was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023, following an earlier retirement due to aphasia.
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