Describe that many non-communicable human diseases are caused by the…

The idea

Non-communicable diseases cannot be passed from person to person. The key idea is interaction: a single disease usually arises from several factors acting together rather than one cause. For cardiovascular disease, genetic predisposition, a high-saturated-fat diet, smoking and inactivity can combine to raise risk. Many cancers involve inherited gene variants plus lifestyle exposures such as smoking or ultraviolet radiation. Some lung diseases link smoking with occupational dust or inherited susceptibility, and some liver diseases link alcohol with viral infection or diet. Nutrition-influenced diseases include type 2 diabetes and obesity, where diet and activity interact with genes. When answering, identify the disease and name at least two interacting factors, showing how they combine rather than listing them separately.

What earns the marks

• States that non-communicable diseases are not transmitted between people.
• Explains that disease risk usually results from several factors interacting, not a single cause.
• Gives cardiovascular disease with at least two interacting factors, such as diet, smoking, genes or inactivity.
• Gives a form of cancer with interacting factors, such as inherited variants plus smoking or ultraviolet radiation.
• Links lung or liver disease to combined factors, for example smoking with occupational exposure, or alcohol with infection or diet.
• Identifies a nutrition-influenced disease such as type 2 diabetes and names interacting dietary and lifestyle factors.

Common mistakes and how to put them right

• Treating one factor as the sole cause.

  Put it right by naming at least two factors and explaining how they combine.

• Confusing non-communicable with infectious disease.

  Put it right by stating these diseases are not passed between people.

• Assuming genetics alone determines risk.

  Put it right by adding lifestyle or environmental factors that interact with inheritance.

Exam tips

• Read the question for the word 'interaction' and make the combining explicit.
• Name the specific disease before listing its factors.
• Use examples from more than one category named in the specification to show breadth.