Methods for preventing and/or treating degenerative disorders of the central nervous system

1. A method for treating a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system in a patient at risk for developing or diagnosed with the same, which comprises administering to the patient in need thereof an effective amount of a therapeutic agent which is 5-(fluoromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol, 5-(chloromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof, or any combination of two or more thereof.

2. The method of claim 1 , which comprises administering 5-(fluoromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof.

3. The method of claim 1 , which comprises administering (3R,4R,5R)-5-(fluoromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 , which comprises administering (3R,4R,5R)-5-(fluoromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol hydrochloride.

5. The method of claim 1 , which comprises administering 5-(chloromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof.

6. The method of claim 1 , which comprises administering (3R,4R,5S)-5-(chloromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 , which comprises administering (3R,4R,5S)-5-(chloromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the degenerative disorder is a synucleinopathy.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the degenerative disorder is characterized by Lewy bodies.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the degenerative disorder is Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, multiple system atrophy or Alzheimer's disease.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the degenerative disorder is associated with aggregation of at least one protein.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the degenerative disorder is associated with aggregation of alpha-synuclein.

13. The method of claim 1 , wherein the degenerative disorder is associated with aggregation of non-Abeta component.

14. The method of claim 1 , wherein the degenerative disorder is associated with accumulation of at least one glycolipid.

15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the degenerative disorder is associated with accumulation of at least one glycosphingolipid.

16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the degenerative disorder is associated with accumulation of glucocerebroside.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the degenerative disorder is associated with a mutation in glucocerebrosidase.

18. The method of claim 1 , further comprising administering an effective amount of at least one other therapeutic agent.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein at least one other therapeutic agent is levodopa, an anticholinergic, a catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitor, a dopamine receptor agonist, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor, or an anti-inflammatory agent.

20. A method for treating Parkinson's disease in a patient at risk for developing or diagnosed with the same, which comprises administering to the patient in need thereof an effective amount of (3R,4R,5R)-5-(fluoromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol, (3R,4R,5S)-5-(chloromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof, or any combination of two or more thereof.

21. The method of claim 20 , which comprises administering (3R,4R,5R)-5-(fluoromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof.

22. The method of claim 20 , which comprises administering (3R,4R,5R)-5-(fluoromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol hydrochloride.

23. The method of claim 20 , which comprises administering (3R,4R,5S)-5-(chloromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, or prodrug thereof.

24. The method of claim 20 , which comprises administering (3R,4R,5S)-5-(chloromethyl)piperidine-3,4-diol.

25. The method of claim 20 , further comprising administering an effective amount of at least one other therapeutic agent.

26. The method of claim 25 , wherein at least one other therapeutic agent is levodopa, an anticholinergic, a catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitor, a dopamine receptor agonist, a monoamine oxidase inhibitor, a peripheral decarboxylase inhibitor, or an anti-inflammatory agent.