[1] http://ageing.oxfordjournals.org/content/early/2016/12/07/ag...

I have studied statistics, and I understand that correlation does not imply causation. However, if you're going to allege that a professional scientific statistician failed to even consider the most trivial and obvious of non-causative correlations, then you're being insulting.

And it's fine to insult scientists. They're not special snowflakes. Do it, if they have a track record of lies, or deceit, or carelessness, or stupidity. But be aware when you're doing it, and why. Don't just blithely say "Hey guys, have we considered the possibility that these scientists are either drooling idiots or evil liars?" That's uncharitable to an extreme.

And yes, I've read it. They are not, as OP suggested, drooling idiots or evil liars.