What field of study focuses on the causes of diseases?

The field of study that focuses on the causes of diseases is known as etiology. Etiology examines the factors that contribute to the development of diseases, including biological agents, environmental influences, lifestyle choices, and genetic predispositions. By understanding these causative agents and their mechanisms, researchers and healthcare professionals can develop better prevention strategies, treatments, and interventions for various health conditions. This focus on causative factors is critical for advancing our knowledge of health and disease processes.

Pathology, while related, primarily deals with the structural and functional changes in tissues and organs caused by diseases rather than the underlying causes of those diseases. Epidemiology primarily studies the distribution and determinants of health-related states or events in specific populations, which includes the understanding of disease patterns but not exclusively the causes. Immunology studies the immune system and how it responds to pathogens and diseases, but it is not solely concerned with the causes of diseases as a whole.