Method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder

1. A method for treating a neurodegenerative disorder in a subject in need of such treatment, comprising administrating to said subject a pharmaceutical composition comprising an effective amount of a compound according to formula VIII, and optionally a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier or excipient;

wherein

each R 18 and R 28 are mono- or di-substituted groups and independently selected from the group consisting of a methoxy group, a hydroxyl group, and an alkyl sulfonyl group;

R 38 is selected from the group consisting of

R 48 is selected from the group consisting of CH 3 , H, F and Cl; and

n 8 is 1 or 2;

wherein the neurodegenerative disorder is spinocerebellar ataxia, Huntington's disease, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein R 18 and R 28 are di-substituted methoxy groups, R 38 is

R 48 is H, and n 8 is 1.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the treatment of the neurodegenerative disorder is through turning on heat shock response.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the treatment of the neurodegenerative disorder is through facilitating the correct protein folding.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the treatment of the neurodegenerative disorder is through activating nuclear factor-erythroid 2 p45-related factor 2 (Nrf2).

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the treatment of the neurodegenerative disorder is through upregulating anti-oxidant defenses.

7. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the treatment of the neurodegenerative disorder is through changing mitochondrial function.

8. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the treatment of the neurodegenerative disorder is through maintaining protein homeostasis.

9. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the treatment of the neurodegenerative disorder is through activating anti-oxidant effect.