Simulated Minds: Rewriting Neurodegenerative Trials with AI

Simulated Minds: Rewriting Neurodegenerative Trials with AI is a call to rethink how we approach some of the most complex and heartbreaking diseases of our time — and how artificial intelligence can help us do it better. Clinical trials for neurodegenerative disorders are long, expensive, and often deeply flawed. From high dropout rates to outdated placebo models, too many promising treatments get lost in a broken system. This book explores how we can rebuild that system using simulated minds — AI-driven virtual patients, digital twins, and intelligent trial frameworks that don't just predict outcomes, but learn and evolve with the science. Across thirteen chapters, the book takes readers through this new frontier: from digital biomarkers and remote monitoring to synthetic control arms and AI-powered recruitment. It dives into how federated learning protects patient privacy, how real-world data is reshaping post-marketing surveillance, and how decentralized trials could finally make clinical research more inclusive and globally accessible. But it also doesn't shy away from the hard parts — the ethical concerns, the black-box nature of AI, and the biases that can sneak into even the smartest code. Whether you're a researcher, student, policymaker, or just someone who believes healthcare needs to catch up with the real world, this book offers a roadmap for making clinical trials not only smarter, but also more human.