The invention provides methods and compounds for the treatment of neurological disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis), traumatic brain injury, ischemic brain injury or a stroke. In one aspect the compounds are HDAC1 activators. Exemplary HDAC1 activators include metal chelators, iron chelators, deferoxamin, flavonoids, compounds comprising a catechol moity, ginkgetin K, Chembridge 5104434, sciadopilysin, tetrahydrogamboic acid, TAM-11, LY 235959, CGS 19755, SK&F 97541, etidronic acid, levonordefrin, methyldopa, ampicillin trihydrate, D-aspartic acid, gamma-D-glutamylaminomethylsulfonic acid, phenazopyridine to hydrochloride, oxalamine citrate salt, podophyllotoxin, SK&F 97541, (+-)-4-amino-3-(5-chloro-2-thienyl)-butanoic acid, (RS)-(tetrazol-5-yl) glycine, R(+)-SKF-81297, gambogic acid, and derivatives thereof.