Chronic Microvascular Ischemic Changes
 

In 1976 I was hit by a car and suffered a depressed skull fracture and subdural hematoma which required a craniotomy. in 1995 I was diagnosed with complex partial seizures. I took Tegretol for about a year but stopped due to side effects. 3 or 4 years ago I started having trouble with my memory and ability to learn new things. I'm 51 y/o so I initially attributed it to age until I realized it may be caused by the seizures. Earlier this year I went to a neurologist who put me on Lamictal. He told me the memory issues are due to the subdural hematoma and suggested I go for neuro psych testing. I lost my job of 12 years in 2011 and have filed for disability. Social Security sent me for testing and his report states my general memory index is in the 2nd % and my cognitive abilities may be declinin. I'm in the process of moving and will be seeing a neurologist closer to my new home. At his suggestion I had an MRI done of my head and the results indicate changes in the white matter likely due to chronic Microvascular Ischemic changes. the differential diagnosis included inflammation, MS, prior head trauma.
I can't find anything indicating prior head trauma could be the cause. Before all this I was very active and healthy, no high blood pressure, diabetes, no smoking. Now I've become less active and stay home most the time and have put on some weight. I'd like to get active again and get back in shape but this uncertainty seems to be keeping me stuck.
I have not had the neuro psych testing done yet and won't see the new neurologist until next month.
I'd like to know if the microvascular ischemic changes could be caused by the injury I had or the epilepsy. or if there's anything else that could be causing it.