Rumer Willis is opening up about how her dad Bruce Willis' dementia diagnosis has impacted her life.
The actress, 38, revealed that she is partnering with Function – a health membership that offers more than 160 advanced lab tests, imaging and specialized assessments – as her father's diagnosis has led her to take a closer look at her own health.
"I really miss my dad. I miss a different version of who he was," Rumer Willis said in an Instagram video postedMonday, Aug. 24. "There are some days that are just so hard. 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 February 2023, Bruce Willis' family revealed that his earlier aphasia diagnosis progressed
to frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, which impacts the parts of the brain generally associated with personality, behavior and language, according to Mayo Clinic. The "Die Hard" star, 71, had stepped away from acting the year prior due to health issues.
Rumer Willis did genetic testing following Bruce Willis' diagnosis
Rumer Willis, the eldest daughter of Demi Moore and Bruce Willis, said that "because of my family history," she decided to undergo genetic testing for APOE, a gene associated with Alzheimer's risk, noting that it is "obviously kind of important."
"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."
While both brain disorders, Alzheimer's disease differs from frontotemporal dementia, which is typically found in younger age groups, according to the Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration. When Bruce Willis was diagnosed, he was 67.
In an interview with People, published Aug. 24, Rumer Willis admitted "it’s terrifying to get answers sometimes" when it comes to health.
“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 said.
“But I think when you have information, it’s power,” she continued. “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.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rumer Willis says 'I really miss' dad Bruce Willis amid his dementia battle
