The present invention discloses compounds, pharmaceutical compositions including the compounds, and methods of preparation and use thereof. The compounds are amide compounds which can be prepared from certain heteoraryl carboxylic acids and certain diazabicycloalkanes. The compounds exhibit selectivity for, and bind with high affinity to, neuronal nicotinic receptors of the a4ss2 subtype in the central nervous system (CNS). The compounds and compositions can be used to treat and/or prevent a wide variety of conditions or disorders, particuarly CNS disorders. The compounds can: (i) alter the number of nicotinic cholinergic receptors of the brain of the patient, (ii) exhibit neuroprotective effects, and (iii) when employed in effective amounts, not result in appreciable adverse side effects (e.g. side effects such as significant increases in blood pressure and heart rate, significant negative effects upon the gastrointestinal tract, and significant effects upon skeletal muscle).