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Billy Joel is canceling the rest of his concert tour after being diagnosed with a brain disorder. The news comes after the singer postponed some gigs over health concerns.
In an Instagram post, Joel, 76, shared that he was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), a rare brain disorder which he said leads “to problems with hearing, vision, and balance.”
His doctor advised him to refrain from performing and pursue physical therapy in his recovery process.
What is normal pressure hydrocephalus?
NPH is a build-up of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain’s ventricles, or fluid-filled chambers. The buildup creates pressure on brain tissue, leading to brain damage if left untreated. NPH is more likely to occur in people over 60.
There are two main types of NPH.
Primary NPH has no known causes and makes up 50% of cases. Secondary NPH is caused by other health issues like a stroke, brain aneurysm, brain tumor, or a traumatic brain injury.
Common symptoms of NPH include struggles with walking, balance, vision, memory, hearing, mood regulation, and urinary incontinence.
NPH is usually treatable
Despite being caused by abnormal cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels, NPH is called “normal pressure” hydrocephalus because a spinal tap measuring CSF usually yields normal results. For that reason, it can take a while to diagnose the condition, as it can initially be confused with Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s.
NPH is diagnosed with physical and neurological exams, diagnostic tests (such as MRIs and CTs), and spinal taps, which can rule out or identify related conditions like meningitis.
In many cases, NPH is treatable and even reversible. The most common treatment is implanting a shunt into the brain to drain the excess fluid into other parts of the body, like the abdomen.
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