A centre of excellence to advance research into how ageing affects cognition, and how mental ability in youth affects health and longevity. CCACE is part of the Lifelong Health and Wellbeing Initiative funded by the UK Research Councils.
"Fionna has begun working with a scientific team at the University of Edinburgh to produce a series of portraits of research participants in a major study of ageing, and the scientists studying them. Fionna has become fascinated with the Lothian Birth Cohorts 1921 and 1936, two unique groups who sat the same intelligence test at the age of 11 and are now helping scientists understand how the brain ages.
In order to develop the project, Fionna has recently become a University of Edinburgh Knowledge Exchange Fellow, and embarked on a pilot project. To build up an understanding of the research, she has already completed a portrait of Professor Ian Deary (pictured left with Fionna), the scientist who leads the study. Fionna has also begun to draw and paint the Lothian Birth Cohort participants, aged in their 70’s and 90’s. In addition Fionna and Professor Deary are applying for additional funding for Fionna to become the Lothian Birth Cohorts Artist in Residence. If successful they hope to develop a major exhibition of the pieces. There has already been interest from major galleries and from Age UK, who sponsor the Disconnected Mind project on the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936.”
Dr Robin Morton