Influencer Rebecca Luna’s Final Days
Diagnosis and Decision
Rebecca Luna, a 49‑year‑old social media influencer from Victoria, British Columbia, died under Canada’s medical assistance in dying, or MAID, on July 25.
She had been diagnosed with early‑stage Alzheimer’s disease at age 48, a condition that affects roughly 3 % of people who develop Alzheimer’s at a younger age.
Her Last Message
In a video posted to her TikTok account, Luna told her 90,000 followers that she had moved her MAID appointment up because her decline was faster than expected.
She said, “Changing the dates has not been my decision legally and medically over the last year and a half… But in the last two weeks I made the decision. And it’s a hard decision because I live in a body that doesn’t feel comfortable, safe, good, anything.”
Family Response
Her eldest daughter, Maya, confirmed the death, and Luna is survived by two daughters.
MAID Statistics in Canada
2024 Report Findings
The government’s Sixth Annual Report on Medical Assisted Dying, released in November 2024, recorded 22,535 MAID reports, of which 16,499 resulted in treatment.
In 2024, 4,017 people died from other causes, 1,327 were deemed ineligible, and 692 withdrew their claims.
Provincial Breakdown
Quebec recorded the highest number of MAID deaths, with 5,998 cases representing 36 % of the national total.
Ontario followed with 4,944 deaths (30 %), and British Columbia accounted for 2,997 deaths, or 18.2 % of the total.
Trends Over Time
The annual growth rate of MAID provision has slowed, dropping from 36.8 % between 2019 and 2020 to 6.9 % between 2023 and 2024.
Since the practice was legalized in 2016, there have been 76,475 MAID determinations across Canada.
Broader Context of Young‑Onset Dementia
Alzheimer’s disease diagnosed before age 65 is considered young‑onset dementia, a relatively rare but growing concern.
The Alzheimer Society of Canada estimates that more than 700,000 Canadians live with some form of dementia, underscoring the impact of early‑onset cases.
A screenshot of a final video message from Rebecca Luna before her death. Photo by (TikTok @wheredidbecsgo)
