[tempsy]

The logic that chronic illness can’t be prevented and is either genetic or inevitable is so problematic.

Like everyone is going to get old and if I think getting old means I will inevitably get gum disease which could cause Alzheimer’s then why bother flossing or caring about preventative oral health?

[manwe150]

I think his point was that these symptoms could be correlation, not causation. So you need to work to prevent each of them as you age. (Eg that flossing is good for your oral health, even though it might have no influence on other factors associated with being old)

[scottlocklin]

#1: you're going to die, and while you can stave it off by living a certain way, there's ultimately nothing you can do about it.

#2: gum disease is correlated with age. Alzheimers is also correlated with age. The connection between the two correlations is age. That means there is basically no evidence gum disease causes Alzheimers any more than heart disease or having wrinkles on your forehead causes gum disease.