TikTok star Rebecca Luna dies aged 49 after battle with early-onset Alzheimer’s and final tragic message to followers
TIKTOK star Rebecca Luna has died at the age of 49 after spending years documenting her battle with Alzheimer’s online.
The inspirational influencer turned to Medical Aid in Dying (MAID) to end her life over the weekend as her death was announced in a final heartbreaking video posted to her account.
The short video from her oldest daughter Maya said: “Rebecca passed away July 25th at approximately 1.15 pm surrounded by her loved ones.
“Thank you for your support and privacy.”
Rebecca, a mum-of-two based in Victoria, British Columbia, had over 47,000 followers on TikTok at the time of her tragic death.
She managed to build up a loyal fan base after announcing her Alzheimer’s diagnosis in April 2025.
Rebecca openly admitted to symptoms first appearing in her late 40s as she suffered blacking out mid-conversation and constantly forgetting things such as where she left her keys.
Earlier this month, Rebecca announced her decision to go through with MAID.
MAID is a process that allows someone who is found eligible to be able to receive assistance from a medical practitioner to end their life on their terms.
Rebecca had been given a five to seven year life expectancy by doctors when she was first diagnosed at the age of 46.
She candidly told her followers just a few days ago that she will undergo MAID due to her “decline coming faster than I had hoped”.
The brave mum explained in her final TikTok video: “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. This is when I get to prioritise myself, and I haven’t done that my whole life.”
She added: “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**king heart’.”
ALZHEIMER’S disease is named after the doctor who first described it in medical literature, Alois Alzheimer.
The disease affects the brain and it is thought that around 850,000 people in total are suffering in the UK alone.
A hallmark of the disease is the build-up of amyloid beta proteins in the brain, which causes plaques.
The plaques then result in the loss of connections between nerve cells in the brain – and ultimately the death of those cells and a loss of brain tissue.
Those with Alzheimer’s also have a shortage of key chemicals in the brain, which help transmit messages.
A lack of these chemicals means the brain is unable to process certain messages how it would have previously.
While there is currently no cure for the disease, some treatments can help boost these chemical messages, and ward of some of the symptoms.
But it is ultimately a progressive disease which means more symptoms appear and worsen over time.
Symptoms of the disease:
- lose common items including keys and glasses around the house
- struggle to find the word they are looking for in conversation
- forget recent conversations or events
- get lost in a familiar place, or while on a familiar journey
- forget important anniversaries, birthdays or appointments