Using clinical, psychological methods and MRI, 199 patients with vascular (VE) and posttraumatic encephalopathy (PE) have been studied. It is shown that atherosclerosis, essential hypertension and their combination become relevant at the age of 40 years. Multiple microfocal white matter lesions, leukoaraiosis, extensive bilateral atrophie changes and dilatation of subarachnoid spaces were characteristic of patients with VE (mean age 67±10 years). In patients with PE, mean age 22±7 years, the local dilatation of subarachnoid space, unilateral dilatation of lateral ventricle and cystic changes in subarachnoid spaces were detected.