Slowing down in older age may seem natural, but increasing activity is what appears to preserve heart health, say Korean researchers.

People over age 60 who reported participating in less moderate or vigorous physical activity as they aged had a 27% increased risk for heart and blood vessel problems. In contrast, individuals who increased their activity levels were 11% less likely to have cardiovascular disease, wrote study lead Kyuwoong Kim, Ph.D., from Seoul National University.

The link between physical activity level and cardiovascular risk held true even for those with disabilities and chronic conditions, Kim reported. People with a disability had a reduced risk of 16%, and those with diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol levels had a reduced risk of between 4% to 7%.

“While older adults find it difficult to engage in regular physical activity as they age, our research suggests that it is necessary to be more physically active for cardiovascular health,” Kim concluded.

The researchers analyzed national health insurance data from more than one million people. Participants had two health checks within a seven-year study period.

The study was published in the European Heart Journal.