Disclosed are methods of treating a male subject diagnosed with cognitive dysfunction that include administering an estrogenic agent, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or complex thereof, to the male subject. Also disclosed is a method of improving cognitive function in a hypogonadal male subject that includes transdermally administering to the male subject a therapeutically effective amount of an estrogenic agent, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or complex thereof. Further disclosed is a method of improving cognitive function in a male subject that includes administering to the male subject an estrogenic agent, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or complex thereof, at a dosage of about 0.025 to about 1.5 mg/day.