Here's a reality check for health-conscious baby boomers: At least 1 in 3 health-conscious baby boomers will eventually develop heart problems or have a stroke.

The upside is that that will happen about seven years later than for their less healthy peers. The study was published online Monday in the Journal of the American Medical Association and released in connection with the American Heart Association conference meeting in Los Angeles.

Researchers at Mount Sinai School of Medicine have found that certain types of specializations on nerve cells called “spines” are depleted as a person ages, causing cognitive decline in the part of the brain that mediates the highest levels of learning. These spines receive an important class of synapses that are involved with the process of learning.

It’s never too early or too late to start working toward the goal of improving brain health and your future quality of life.  The start of a New Year can be a perfect opportunity to consider how to  achieve a long, health and satisfying life.