The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating a disorder associated with a deficiency in a gene product of a CLN gene in a subject (e.g., neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL)), comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a sphingolipid (e.g., galactosylceramide, ceramide, lysophosphatidic acid, sulfatide and any combination thereof), thereby treating the disorder in the subject.