To begin understanding noncommunicable diseases in a population, researchers must understand how people are connected to each other, how they interact with each other, and if there are external influences. Heterogeneity and complexity in human disease suggest new methodological and analytical ways in which the physical sciences can assist research in areas such as obesity, cardiovascular diseases, psychiatric disorders, or cancer. As it is becoming clear that human morbid states are not strictly deterministic diseases, this chapter overviews how statistical physics and nonlinear dynamics (e.g., percolation, cascades, control theory) grounded in stochastic approaches can contribute to the delineation and control of an array of complex population health outcomes.
Mathematical control theory: nonlinear dynamics and engineering applications
