Abstract: The present invention relates to methods of restoring cognitive function in aged individuals that do not exhibit a clinically detectable neurodegenerative disease. In one aspect, the present invention provides a method of improving cognitive function in an aged individual that does not have a neurodegenerative disease characterized by aggregation of a pathological protein, the method comprising or consisting of: applying a clinically safe level of acoustic energy to sites within a region of the brain, thereby saturating or substantially saturating the region with acoustic energy, thereby improving cognitive function in the aged individual.