After his diagnosis Brain statesinger Billy Joel has cancelled all scheduled concerts.
The five-time Grammy Award winner, 76, announced Friday that he has the usual pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), which occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) accumulates inside or around the brain.
“This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to issues of hearing, vision and balance,” the announcement said on Joel’s website.
Billy Joel cancels all concerts for diagnosis of brain damage
“Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy has undergone certain physical therapy and is advised to refrain from implementing this recovery period.”
What causes normal pressure hydrocephalus?
Hydrocephalus is a general term that describes the accumulation of excess fluid in the brain.
Billy Joel will perform at Madison Square Garden in New York City on December 19th, 2023. Following the diagnosis in brain conditions, Joel canceled all scheduled concerts. (Getty Images)
“The fluid, called cerebrospinal fluid, is constantly produced in a fluid-filled space in the center of the brain, called the ventricle,” Potts said. “It flows through the ventricle and then Brain and spinal cordwhere it is reabsorbed. ”
Hydrocephalus can occur for a variety of reasons, including infection, brain trauma, and bleeding within the brain, doctors said.
“This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to auditory, vision and balance issues.”
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a version of the condition that is usually seen senior citizencerebrospinal fluid accumulates without increasing the pressure in the brain.
Despite the fact that pressure remains normal, NPH can affect brain function, especially areas of thought, memory, movement and focus, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
NPH symptoms
The three main effects of NPH are walking problems, urinary incontinence and cognitive difficulty. Collectively, these symptoms are known as the “Hakim Triad.”
It is included in cognitive issues AmnesiaSlow thinking and difficulties, according to Mia Kazanzian, a board-certified radiologist for private practice based in Connecticut.

The five-time Grammy Award winner, 76, announced Friday that he has the usual pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), which occurs when cerebrospinal fluid accumulates inside or around the brain. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images)
“This can have a negative impact on someone’s career and personal life and limit their ability to carry out activities in daily life, such as eating, bathing, dressing,” Kazandian, who was not involved in the study, told Fox News Digital. “This can also lead to emotional changes. Like depression. ”
According to doctors, urinary incontinence means loss of bladder control, which can cause discomfort, anxiety and embarrassment.
Ministrokes can cause surprising long-term health issues, experts warn
“This can cause someone to contract bladder infections. Skin irritation“She warned. Plus, it could lead someone to socially isolate, which could lead to a sense of loneliness.”
Walking disorder means that a person’s steps are unstable, there is a loss of balance and the feet can stick to the ground, shuffle or freeze, Kazanjan said.
“The danger is that someone can collapse and maintain the trauma from a serious injury,” she warned.

Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a version of a condition that is usually seen in older people, where cerebrospinal fluid accumulates without increasing the pressure in the brain. (istock)
This condition can often be mistaken for dementia, but some cases of NPH Can be handled And then it turned around.
The only known risk factor for NPH is age, noted by the Cleveland Clinic, with an average age of onset of about 70.
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Other factors such as race, gender, and ethnicity do not seem to affect the likelihood of the condition that occurs.
Approximately 0.2% of 70-80 people develop NPH, affecting approximately 5.9% of people over the age of 80. The above source states.

This condition is diagnosed through a combination of neurological examinations, lab testing, and diagnostic imaging (MRI or CT scan). (istock)
Only about 0.003% of people under the age of 65 will obtain the condition.
“Around 30% of people with NPH also suffer from Alzheimer’s disease or similar degenerative brain disease,” Cleveland Clinic said.
Diagnosis and treatment
This condition is diagnosed through a combination of neurological examinations, lab testing, and diagnostic imaging (MRI or CT scan).
The most common treatment for NPH is a Surgical procedures A device with two tubes called a shunt, called a shunt, is embedded to regulate the amount of fluid in the brain.
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“One end is placed in a pocket of cerebrospinal fluid, usually in the pocket of cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricle of the brain or in the lumbar vertebrae below the spinal cord,” Matthew Potts, MD, MD, Northwestern Medical Neurosurgeon, told Fox News Digital. (Potts was also not involved in Joel’s care.)
“The other end usually goes somewhere in your body that can reabsorb fluid in the abdomen.”
The only known risk factor for NPH is age, with the average age of onset of approximately 70.
“Shunts are more complicated than just a tube. Often there are valves that regulate how much fluid flows.”
Some new shunts can be programmed to change the speed of fluid flow from outside the body, Potts added.
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Symptoms usually resolve within hours or days of the shunt implantation. The surgery itself usually involves recovery for days or weeks.
Experts highlighted that Timely treatment It is essential to prevent severe or permanent damage to the brain from pressure caused by excess fluid.
