Methods for promoting weight gain using GPE-related compounds

Weight gain in a mammal, especially a human, having a condition that leads to decreased weight gain or weight loss, such as AIDS, brain trauma, a chronic neurodegenerative disease such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, or multiple sclerosis, or other condition, is promoted by increasing the effective concentration of a GPE-related compound (GPE or a GPE analog) in the central nervous system of the mammal. This increase may be achieved by administration to the mammal of an effective amount of a GPE-related compound, a prodrug thereof, or an implant containing cells that express the GPE-related compound or prodrug.