The invention provides substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine and related organic compounds, compositions containing such compounds, medical kits, and methods for using such compounds and compositions to treat medical disorders, e.g., Gaucher disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy body disease, dementia, or multiple system atrophy, in a patient. Exemplary substituted pyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine compounds described herein include 5,7-dimethyl-N-phenylpyrazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine-3-carboxamide compounds and variants thereof.