Rebecca Luna, the TikTok creator who openly shared her life with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, has died at 49.
Luna, whose candid videos drew attention to the realities of living with Alzheimer’s at a young age, chose Medical Aid in Dying, known as MAID, to end her life.
News of her death was confirmed Saturday in a message posted to her TikTok account.
The announcement read: “Rebecca passed away July 25th at approximately 1:15 p.m. surrounded by her loved ones. Thank you for your support and privacy.”
Luna had said her symptoms began in her late 40s, describing frightening lapses such as blacking out during conversations, misplacing her keys and forgetting to turn off the stove.
After going public with her diagnosis on TikTok in April 2025, Luna built a community of more than 47,000 followers who connected with her honesty and vulnerability.
TikTok star Rebecca Luna has died at age 49
The content creator, who documented her experience living with young-onset Alzheimer’s, turned to Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) to end her life
The viral post, which collected hundreds of thousands of likes, prefaced her journey in which she shared doctor’s appointments and unveiled her choice to pursue MAID.
She provided resources for people interested in learning about their end-of-life options.
A single mom living in British Columbia, she also fielded questions about the legal aspects of turning to MAID.
Her efforts and visibility led to her meeting Lily Allen, after she declared that taking a photo with the singer was a bucket list item.
‘I told her that it was [on] my bucket list to meet her,’ Luna later shared in a video, calling it ‘the best experience.’
On July 22 she announced that her death date was rescheduled from early August to July 25 at 10 am.
In her final TikTok post, she explained, ‘Prior to the dates changing, for the last year and a half has been legally and medically not my choice. But for the last two weeks I’ve been making the decision.
‘And it’s a hard decision to make, because I’m living in a body that doesn’t feel comfortable, safe, good, nothing. It feels terrible. And so the idea of waiting two weeks felt like too much.’
The sad news was shared via a post shared on her account on Saturday
Luna said, ‘This is when I get to prioritize myself, and I haven’t done that my whole life.’
She pointed out the struggles she’s faced throughout her life, adding, ‘I’ve suffered enough in this world.
‘But at the same time, the suffering has brought me to this place of, I really know who I am and I really know that I have a good f***ing heart.’
Early-onset Alzheimer’s makes up a small subset of the roughly seven million Americans with Alzheimer’s.
People with this type of disease often see sharper cognitive decline over a shorter period, and a life expectancy from diagnosis of about eight years.
It was announced: ‘Rebecca passed away July 25th at approximately 1:15 p.m. surrounded by her loved ones. Thank you for your support and privacy’
In a GoFundMe, Luna described the toll the illness brought to her family as she sought financial support due to her inability to continue working.
‘I have been diagnosed with a rare form of Alzheimer’s, called Young Onset Alzheimer’s Disease. I am 48 years old,’ Luna wrote. ‘This all started when I was 46. I am a single mother to two beautiful children. I have a lovely life that has sadly taken a very tragic turn.
‘My neurologist has given me a 5-7 year expectancy. I will be leaving behind a loving family, children and mother. We are devastated. I am no longer able to work but still responsible to provide for my family.
‘All funds will go towards rent/food and medical expenses until I pass. Any funds left will go directly to my two beautiful children. I am terrified to leave them, for them to be alone, but also to be alone with no financial security. Any and all help is received with immense gratitude.
‘If you can’t donate, if you could share the page that will be equally as helpful. I wish you all the best that life can give you. Please hug your loved ones.’
If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.
