The present invention relates to the use of a compound that induces the activity of proinsulin, preferably human proinsulin, for the preparation of a medicinal product or pharmaceutical composition for the prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative conditions, disorders or diseases involving programmed cell death, preferably neurodegenerative pathologies of the central and peripheral nervous systems, and, more preferably, of the heredodegenerative diseases known as retinosis pigmentosa. The activator compound may consist of a chemical molecule, a peptide, a protein or a nucleotide sequence.
