A new study, the results of which were reported at the European Society of Cardiology’s EuroPRevent congress in Amsterdam, finds that 40 is not too late to start intensive exercising. The study, which was performed in France, looked at 40 healthy men without cardiovascular risk factors between the ages of 55 and 70. They assessed them retroactively based on their level of exercise and when they began it.

Researchers found that 10 of the men had never exercised for more than 2 hours a week throughout their lives, and 30 had exercised for at least 7 hours a week for over five years, either beginning their programs before the age of 30 or after the age of 40. Those beginning before the age of 30 had been training for an average of 39 years (since the age of 22) and those starting at 40 for 18 years (since the age of 48).

Based on a number of cardiovascular tests, researchers found that there were similar long-term health benefits despite a later starting age, reports HealthDay. Resting heart rates were similar among men in both exercise groups (about 57 to 58 beats per minute), but were much higher among men who didn’t exercise (nearly 70 beats per minute). The men in the two exercise groups also had much higher maximum oxygen uptake than those who didn’t exercise.

Exercise has a number of short- and long-term benefits. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), regular physical activity can help control weight, reduce risk of cardiovascular disease, reduce risk of type 2 diabetes, reduce risk of some cancers, strengthen bones and muscles, improve mood and mental health, improve ability of older adults to do daily activities and recover from falls, and increase chances of living longer. Though this study only focuses on cardiovascular risk, it is probably true that starting exercise late is better than never.