1) The Story — When Capacity Turns Into a Question
The day my father hesitated over his signature, I realised what legacy really means.
It wasn’t about property or portfolios—it was about agency. When cognitive decline knocks, families don’t ask about money first. They ask, “Can Dad still sign his name?”
That moment changed how I practise and how I teach: capacity isn’t only protected by lawyers and forms; it’s protected by daily habits that keep the brain resilient long before the paperwork is needed.
2) The Science — Daily Habits Preserve Function (and Capacity)
Multidomain lifestyle programs—combining movement, cognitive challenge, vascular risk control, diet, and social engagement—have shown benefits for thinking skills and everyday function in older adults at risk. Key studies:
- FINGER trial (randomised, multidomain): Improvements in global cognition and executive function with diet, exercise, cognitive training, and vascular risk management — The Lancet (2015). https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)60461-5/fulltext
- preDIVA trial (cluster-RCT, primary care): Long-term vascular risk management showed signals for dementia prevention in specific subgroups — The Lancet (2016). https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(16)30950-3/fulltext
- MAPT FDG-PET analysis: Multidomain intervention associated with preserved cerebral glucose metabolism — Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy (2020). https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7574215/
- Lancet Commission (2020): Up to ~40–45% of dementia risk may be attributable to modifiable factors across the life course (e.g., physical inactivity, hypertension, hearing loss, social isolation, diabetes, sleep problems). https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(20)30367-6/fulltext
Personalising these interventions increases adherence and impact. For an accessible overview of risk communication, motivational strategies, and digital tools to tailor multidomain prevention, see Chong (2025) — Heart & Mind. https://journals.lww.com/hhmi/fulltext/2025/01000/approaches_to_personalize_multidomain_lifestyle.11.aspx
What this means for capacity: These same habits don’t just help memory; they help maintain day‑to‑day abilities that underpin agency—managing finances, understanding contracts, and signing documents with confidence.
3) The Strategy — Protect the Signature
Treat brain health like a daily asset so decisions are made earlier—about care, capacity, ACP/LPA/POA, and the documents that protect dignity.
This week’s 3×3 plan
Move (most days):
- 25–30 minutes brisk walk or cycle
- 5 minutes balance: heel‑to‑toe, single‑leg stands, or tai chi forms
- 2–3 sets of chair‑stands or wall push‑ups
Load the brain (3 sessions):
- Learn a micro‑skill (e.g., chord progression, new recipe in another language)
- “Stack” skills (music + counting; language + cooking) to recruit multiple networks
- 10 minutes of deliberate practice with a clear goal and feedback
Guard the basics (daily):
- Blood pressure: work with your clinician; many aim for <130/80 mmHg
- Sleep: 7–8 hours; screen for snoring or witnessed apnoeas (consider a sleep study)
- Connection: schedule 3 meaningful interactions per week (calls, walks, communities)
Note: These strategies complement—not replace—medical advice. Always individualise with your medical team if you have any diagnosed condition.
Closing Invitation
We can’t control every signature moment—but we can control the habits that lead up to it.
What’s one habit you’ll commit to this week—for the sake of your future self?
If you’re planning a client appreciation, retirement & legacy, or workplace wellness session and want a practical, 60‑minute “talk + fireside” outline your audience can act on, comment LEGACY or DM me and I’ll share it.
If you do not have any diagnosed cognitive condition and wish to avoid getting one, DM for personalised strategies.