Rumer Willis opened up about the emotional difficulty of her father Bruce Willis’ dementia battle after taking a genetic test to assess her own risk for Alzheimer’s disease, as reported by Page Six.

The actress partnered with Function, a health membership that provides more than 160 advanced lab tests, specialized assessments, and imaging.

She was particularly interested in the company’s APOE genetic test because of her father’s frontotemporal dementia diagnosis.

“I really miss my dad. I miss a different version of who he was,” Rumer shared via Instagram on Monday.

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“There are some days that are just so hard. I try to prioritize being present with where he’s at now,” she continued.

The 38-year-old explained that strength has required her to hold on to her memories of Bruce while also accepting his current condition. “The truth is, to be strong is learning to deal with both things at the same time,” she wrote.

Rumer decided to undergo the APOE test to learn more about her risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. She said the test felt especially important because of her family history.

The “Dancing With the Stars” winner revealed that she received a “pretty average” score. According to Rumer, the result means that “there is some risk, but it’s not crazy.”

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The “House Bunny” star discussed her decision further during an interview with People. While she wanted information about her health, she acknowledged the fear involved in receiving potentially difficult results.

“It’s terrifying to get answers sometimes,” Rumer admitted to the outlet.

She also explained that dementia is not the only health concern that has affected members of her family. “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.”

Despite the fear surrounding the testing process and her results, Rumer maintained that information can help people take control of their health. She insisted that when “you have information, it’s power.”

“I think health is one of those things that we take for granted until we don’t have it,” she continued. Her experience with Bruce’s condition contributed to her decision to seek answers about her own health risks.

Rumer also emphasized the value of taking action before health problems become more difficult to manage. “And I think that if you are taking small steps right now to be proactive about it, you might not have to have such a steep fall off the cliff as you get older.”

Bruce, 71, was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023. The diagnosis came just months after he retired from acting amid a diagnosis of aphasia.

Since the heartbreaking diagnosis, Rumer and her sisters have continued to provide candid updates about their father’s health. Bruce shares Rumer, Tallulah, 32, and Scout, 34, with his ex-wife Demi Moore.

Rumer previously spoke about a change she had noticed in her father while discussing his progressive neurological disease. In May, she said Bruce had developed a “sweetness” during his ongoing battle.

“I’m so grateful I get to go see him,” she said during an interview with “The Inside Edit” at the time. “Even though it’s different now, I’m so grateful. There’s a sweetness.”

She described Bruce as someone who had always been a “macho dude,” but said she now sees a tenderness in him that may not have been expressed in the same way before.

 

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Her comments reflected both the pain of missing the father she remembers and her gratitude for the time they can still spend together.