Rumer Willis is taking a more proactive approach to her health after watching her father, Bruce Willis, navigate frontotemporal dementia. The 38-year-old actress has decided to undergo genetic testing to learn more about her possible risks for conditions that have appeared in her family.
According to Entertainment Weekly, the Rumer Willis health decision includes testing related to Alzheimer’s disease and breast cancer. Although she admitted that receiving answers can feel frightening, Willis believes knowing more about her body will give her the chance to make informed choices while she is still young and healthy.
Rumer Willis Embarks On A Health Journey That Includes Genetic Testing
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Willis recently opened up about partnering with Function, a health membership service offering extensive laboratory testing, imaging, and other assessments. She acknowledged that learning about possible genetic risks can feel “terrifying,” especially considering her family’s history of dementia, breast cancer, and other illnesses.
Bruce Willis’ Diagnosis Changed How His Family Looks at Health
Bruce Willis, 71, stepped away from acting after developing speech and language difficulties, with his family later revealing his frontotemporal dementia diagnosis. His daughters, former wife Demi Moore, and wife Emma Heming Willis have remained united in supporting him. Rumer has also spoken openly about missing the father she once knew while learning to hold grief and gratitude at the same time.
That experience appears to have reshaped the Rumer Willis health outlook as well. She is not waiting for a medical crisis before paying closer attention to her own body and family history. Importantly, Willis has not announced that genetic testing has found she will develop any particular disease. For now, she is simply seeking more information about possible risks and using that knowledge to make decisions about her lifestyle and medical care. After seeing how quickly health can change a family’s world, Willis seems determined to prepare where she can—not out of fear, but with her daughter and future in mind.