FUNCTION is the practical companion to WHEALTHSPAN, helping you turn big ideas about health, wealth, and longevity into simple weekly actions you can actually stick with.
Who is FUNCTION for
- You’ve read or heard about WHEALTHSPAN and want to apply it in daily life.
- You want optimal strength, balance, stamina, flexibility, and cognitive control.
- You want to stay at the top of your health potential as you age, not just avoid disease.
- You prefer clear, evidence‑based, verifiable guidance over generic health advice
What’s in FUNCTION
- Simple check‑ins to see where your FUNCTION is strong and where it’s at risk.
- Weekly practice frameworks that fit into a normal life, not an exercise schedule.
- Step‑by‑step guidance to protect strength, balance, mobility, and confidence.
- Practical “course corrections” you can make even if you feel late to the game.
Start FUNCTION today
Whether you’re just beginning to think seriously about your later decades or already living them, FUNCTION gives you the most reliable, realistic, science‑grounded way to stay stronger and more capable for longer.
What others are saying
Fulton offers up nothing less than a revelation: at any age, how well we can DO is how well we truly are. This important book puts the power to measure and manage these capabilities where it belongs—in your hands.
—David L. Katz, MD, MPH, Senior Science Advisor, Blue ZonesPast President, American College of Lifestyle Medicine
A tremendous contribution to the field of longevity and healthy aging. The author elevates the truth that above-average holistic function across multiple domains is more important than excellence in a single category.
—Cate Collings, MD, MS, FACC, FACLM, Cardiovascular, Lifestyle, and Longevity Mentor and Advisor to the Pritikin Longevity Institute
A compelling and practical exploration of the single most important predictor of independence as we age: function. For anyone committed to living fully, confidently, and independently, this is an essential guide.
—Colin Milner, CEO/Founder, International Council on Active Aging
How exciting that there are key actions we can all engage in today which will better ensure a healthy aging outcome! Function provides a clear way to diminish anxiety and fear, a tremendous gift on the aging journey!
—Rob Liebreich, President and CEO, Goodwin Living
About the Author
Professor Scott B. Fulton is a healthspan and aging researcher and teaches adults at three prominent US universities. An internationally recognized expert on practical aging strategies, he speaks widely to clinicians, communities, and organizations on redefining aging early in the process. His engineering research and lifestyle medicine background combine to help explain aging in ways that are relatable and easily applied to everyday life. Scott is a member of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the esteemed True Health Initiative, and is Past President of the National Aging in Place Council.
Turn Your Blind Spots into Strengths
Everyone talks about aging well, but how do you know if what you are doing will actually make a difference? FUNCTION closes a critical gap in how we think about aging by shifting the focus from theory and hacks to something you can see, measure, and improve every day: your function.
Why function matters
Healthspan is your ability to do the things you love—and need to do—for as long as possible. Traditional medicine focuses on disease, not on whether you can climb stairs, carry groceries, solve problems, or move confidently through your day. FUNCTION goes back to basics and asks a simple question: does our function today predict our function years down the road?
The answer, backed by over 10 million person‑years of data across more than five decades, is an emphatic yes. Researchers around the world have been studying physical and cognitive function in silos, but FUNCTION brings their work together into a single, practical framework for daily life.
The five domains of function
FUNCTION shows that healthspan is powered by five domains of function that cover nearly everything you “do” in daily life—from movement and balance to coordination and cognitive control. These domains can be measured without special equipment or advanced skills, often using everyday activities you already perform.
Something as simple as walking speed turns out to be highly predictive of future decline, disability, and mortality. A change of just 0.1 meters per second is associated with roughly a decade difference in later‑life outcomes, and it can be influenced by walking with more intention—not more time, just better use of the time you already spend moving. The same applies to how you ascend stairs, balance on one leg, reach and carry objects, and challenge your brain—no gym memberships required.
Strengths vs blind spots
When these measures are viewed as a portfolio, a surprising pattern emerges: healthspan is not determined by your strongest abilities, but by your weak link—your blind spot. That overlooked domain ultimately decides how long you can keep living the life you want.
44 self‑assessments you can do at home
At the heart of FUNCTION is a set of 44 self‑assessments—simple, evidence‑based measurements you can perform at home at almost any age, sometimes with the help of a partner. Each one is drawn from standard clinical tests used on thousands of people over many years and selected for strong data and ease of use in real‑world settings.
Each assessment shows where you stand relative to a large, healthy population for your age and sex, and what “better” looks like. You will learn how to move toward at least the 50th percentile—and ideally the 75th percentile or higher—to build the physical and cognitive reserve needed when life inevitably throws a curveball. Reserve is what many people think of as resilience, and FUNCTION explains how to cultivate it so that your brain and body are better able to fend off decline.
Be first to experience FUNCTION
FUNCTION: Turn Your Blind Spots into Strengths will be released on January 13th, with both Kindle and paperback formats available. Early readers will have the chance to explore the framework, try the self‑assessments, and begin building a more measurable, trustworthy approach to healthspan.
Pay it forward: A short review on Amazon helps others discover how to get on track to a longer, stronger healthspan.