We often try to search the answers until we don`t find the answer we like. In such situation we ignore some facts that looks bad for our theory. It doesn`t depends on the age, it is some problem with the human. Of course it doesn`t mean that it is what happened with your friend but it is possible situation too. Anyway it is good that he could stop even after such problems.
Well if I have years without knowing about him, since he was cured I did not know anything else, but he was really bad, in fact he even walked with a cane, I saw him too old, but particularly obsessions can lead people to a point in their life almost mortal, he also believed himself to be very intelligent, people told him that he was the most intelligent of all and that he Dominated everything, but a truly intelligent person does not get to hurt himself, that is why casino games must be taken as a means of entertainment, I see it as a service of entertainment that should not be exceeded.