The present invention relates to novel neurosteroid derivatives with anti-apoptotic, neuroprotective and neurogenic properties that act on the nervous system as well as methods for making the same and their applications in the treatment and / or prevention or amelioration of neurodegenerative diseases related to neuronal apoptosis or neuronal injury, or conditions related to or resulting from apoptosis, including but not limited to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, multiple sclerosis and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), retinal degeneration and detachment, peripheral neuropathy caused by genetic abnormalities, diabetes, polio, herpes, AIDS and chemotherapy, brain trauma, or ischemia and stroke. The active compounds are represented by Formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, A, B, X, Y and Z are defined in the description of the invention. The present invention also includes compositions which comprise one or more of the compounds of Formula (I).