Abstract: Methods are disclosed for improving age-related decreases in cortical function by increasing the activity of inhibitory pathways, such as GABA-ergic pathways, in the central nervous system. In particular examples, subjects with age-related decreases in cortical function are treated by administering therapeutically effective amounts of a GABA-ergic agonist. The disclosed methods also enable screening for drugs that inhibit an age-related decline in cortical function, for example by exposing a subject to a test agent, and measuring an increase in GABA-ergic cortical inhibitory activity.