Her research focuses on understanding positive and negative modifiers of cognitive aging, including the extent to which chronic illnesses of adulthood and l ate life lead to accelerated cognitive decline in community dwelling older adults. In addition, she is interested in the relative and/or potentially additive value of everyday versus traditional cognitive performance in predicting functional outcomes in persons with chronic physical and mental illnesses. Dr. Thornton completed her Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology with a specialization in Neuropsychology in 1995. She subsequently completed a two-year postdoctoral fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, where she obtained additional specialization in Geriatrics and Neuropsychology.