FUNCTION: Turn Your Blind Spots into Strengths

by Scott B. Fulton

Do you know how to measure if your healthspan is on track? Thanks to new research, led by Prof. Scott B. Fulton, it is far simpler and robust than many expected, and now it’s easy and accessible to everyone.

FUNCTION, a Top New Release in multiple categories, shows you how taking a moment to measure everyday movements such as walking speed, climbing stairs, standing on one leg, reaching, and catching a ball, reveals your Functional Age. Add a brain game and it also measures your cognitive function, and where it’s tracking.

Grounded in longitudinal studies of more than 700,000 adults over five decades, this portfolio-style view of functional capacity explains why some people move and think years younger than their chronological age—and how you can, too.

Fulton provides several examples that illustrate how healthspan is not dictated by strengths, but instead by the weakest link—your blind spot. He also explains that while VO2 max is important, it has been blown out of proportion because it’s just one part of healthspan and longevity.

Healthspan is dictated by a five-part multi-domain functional portfolio. You want all five pointed at the same finish line while building reserve into your every activities—that’s how to maximize healthspan.

Instead of familiar one-size-fits-all traps, FUNCTION empowers you with a personal healthspan scorecard built from simple self-assessments you can perform at home in minutes—no lab tests or special devices required.

Healthspan is about doing what you love and need to do longer. The best way to measure it is by doing precisely measure what you already do.

Choose from 44 research-based activities across five domains of function that reveal your strongest reserves and whether you have a blind spot. You’ll immediately see how your results compare with healthy norms for your sex and age. You’ll also see your Functional Age, and together, you’ll see where you are headed decades down the road.

If you are in good shape, you’ll finally know, instead of guessing. If there’s an area for improvement, you will know that too, and learn how to get it on track with your other strengths, so it doesn’t hold you back.

In these pages you will learn how everyday movements and mental tasks into reliable indicators of your healthspan.Turn your results into a simple, repeatable plan to strengthen specific domains without overhauling your entire lifestyle.Use periodic re-testing to track real progress over months and years so you always know whether your choices are adding capable years to your life.FUNCTION is a practical, evidence-based field guide for anyone who wants to stop guessing about aging, see their true capacity in black and white, and build a future they can count on—one they are strong enough, sharp enough, and confident enough to fully enjoy.

Genres: Nonfiction

207 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 13, 2026

Reviews

[Kenneth · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this. It's not really a book about exercise, in the sense of how to. It's a different way to think about what makes you healthy, and how to test the various attributes that keep you functional as an aging human being. Easily, at home more or less. I'll be working through these for awhile and tweaking my exercise routine accordingly.

[Patrick Tullis · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an excellent book that uses evidence-based metrics to help you find areas of improvement for function. These metrics are based on large population studies of non-elite athletes and excludes those with medical injuries/impairments. The author is clear that he is not doctor, physical therapist, or any medical professional. I appreciate that he explicitly states that this book is to give the reader the information and it is not medical advice. He recommends talking to your medical provider with the results of these test so that you don’t get hurt. Basically, he took all this data and shows you how decline can really affect you as you age and how small improvements can protect you as you age. It really hit home for me as I’ve seen many people I care about decline physically and mentally in their 60’s. Also, he splits the data into categories for men and women.

I took many of the test in this book. I found that I need to really improve my flexibility/mobility, and slightly improve my cardiovascular area. My left shoulder mobility is similar to that of the average 80 year old man! Luckily, I identified it early with this book and I’m working on improving it.

I really, truly appreciate this author’s ability to compile all the data and to lay it out all in one place. The book and author stand in sharp contrast to all the health “influencers” that are either trying to sell you stuff or don’t really have any expertise to properly analyze studies.

[Cindy F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Function fills a huge void and is based on more research than all the expensive, inaccurate, high tech approaches. It’s an easy read and makes several important points. Ive long wanted to measure my healthspan and now I finally know! And I know how to make it better just by paying closer attention to what I already do.

Everything is very clear and doable—very factual. I subsequently orders 2 more copies for family members who are having great fun with the cognition assessments.

[Doug Dowler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very helpful book to think about fitness/health in a comprehensive way. I am in my late 50's and this was a very helpful book to help me make sure my healthspan is as long as possible.