The invention pertains to derivatives of docosahexaenoylethanolamide (synaptamide or DEA) and their use in inducing neurogenesis, neurite growth, and/or synaptogenesis. As such, these DEA derivatives can be used as therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases such as traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, peripheral nerve injury, stroke, multiple sclerosis, autism, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The DEA derivatives of the invention have increased potency and hydrolysis resistance as compared to native DEA. Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid accumulates in the brain during development, and has been implicated in learning and memory development. DEA, a metabolite derived from DHA, also has been shown to accelerate neuronal growth and development. In vitro studies in which neural progenitor cells were treated with DEA derivatives showed an increase in the number of somatic neurons produced after differentiation.