In various embodiments methods of delaying the onset of and/or mitigating the severity of one or more symptoms of Parkinsons disease in a mammal are provided. In certain embodiments the methods involve administering to a mammal diagnosed as having or as at risk for Parkinsons disease a chronic low dose of lithium (e.g., a subtherapeutic dose). In certain embodiments the low dose lithium is administered in conjunction with another agent (e.g., L-DOPA).
