Exercise Past 40 Still Effective

Couch potatoes past the age of 40 who start exercising can significantly cut their chances of developing coronary artery disease, say German researchers.

Researchers at The German Centre for Research on Aging at the University of Heidelberg studied 312 adults between the ages of 40 and 68 who had confirmed coronary artery disease and 479 volunteers matched for age and sex.

Each participant was interviewed about their level of physical activity in early adulthood -- from age 20 to 39, and in late adulthood -- past the age of 40.

Those who had been active all their lives were around 60 percent less likely to be diagnosed with coronary heart disease, but those who became very physically active after the age of 40 were around 55 percent less likely to be diagnosed with heart disease than those who had embraced inactivity all their lives, according to the study in Heart.

The authors conclude that even if started later, exercise still confers many benefits and substantially cuts the risk of heart disease. It is never too late to start exercising.