Normal pressure hydrocephalus explained as Billy Joel cancels tour dates
What is normal pressure hydrocephalus? The rare brain disorder affecting Billy Joel - and its symptoms, prognosis and treatment
Billy Joel has cancelled his rescheduled concert dates due to a recent brain disorder diagnosis, he has announced on Instagram.
The 76-year-old has said he was recently diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a condition that causes a build-up of fluid in the brain.
â
The Piano Man singer had been scheduled to play 17 dates across America and the UK, including Murrayfield stadium in Edinburgh on June 6 and Anfield stadium in Liverpool on June 20.
â
A post to Joelâs social media said: "Billy Joel has announced that he will be cancelling all scheduled concerts following a recent diagnosis of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH).
"This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance.
"Under his doctorâs instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.
Article continues below"Billy is thankful for the excellent care he is receiving and is fully committed to prioritising his health.
"He is grateful for the support from fans during this time and looks forward to the day when he can once again take the stage."
â
Joel said: "Iâm sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding."
Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a rare and poorly understood condition that typically affects people over the age of 60, according to the NHS.
It occurs when cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that surrounds the brain and spinal cord builds up in the brain, disrupting brain function.
â
In NPH, this buildup â known as hydrocephalus â is typically gradual enough that the pressure inside the skull increases, but stays within normal range.
"NPH is a type of hydrocephalus that is seen typically in older people," Dr Matthew Potts, associate professor of neurological surgery, radiology and neurology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, told The Post.
"The fluid builds up, and it doesnât necessarily affect the pressure in the brain â hence the 'normal pressure' part â but it still affects the brain."
â
There are two forms of NPH: primary (idiopathic) NPH and secondary NPH. It is not clear which form Joel has, but primary NPH â attributed to age-related issues â accounts for half of all cases. Secondary NPH is caused by an underlying medical condition that affects the body's CSF.
NPH can cause thinking and reasoning problems, difficulty walking, and loss of bladder control. It can be difficult to diagnose as its symptoms are typically associated with more common conditions such as Alzheimerâs disease.
According to the Alzheimer's Association, the hallmark symptoms of NPH include:
â
Difficulty walking â it is sometimes compared to the way a person walks 'on a boat', with the body bent forward and legs held wide apart Mild dementia â loss of interest in daily activities, forgetfulness and short-term memory problems, and difficulty completing routine tasks Decline in thinking skills â overall slowing of thought processes, apathy, impaired planning and decision-making, reduced concentration, and personality changes Loss of bladder control â typically appears later in the disease than difficulty walking and cognitive declineNormal pressure hydrocephalus is one of the few causes of dementia that can be controlled or reversed with treatment, the Alzheimer's Associations says. However, the longer the condition goes undiagnosed, the more likely the increase in pressure could cause severe brain damage.
Primary NPH is typically treated with surgery and the implementation of a shunt. During this procedure, doctors remove a large amount of CSF and observe the patient for 30 to 60 minutes, looking for any improvements in cognition.
Article continues belowThe type of treatment for secondary NPH depends on the underlying cause.
Experts have not yet found effective nonsurgical treatments for normal pressure hydrocephalus, and more research is needed to fully understand this rare condition.
A woman born in 1976 claims that she is the daughter of Queen's late frontman, Freddie Mercury, in a new biography.
Read more >> : Cick here
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
âHoney Donât!â review: Margaret Qualley stars as a gutsy private eye in Ethan Coenâs messy comic noir â Cannes Film Festival
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The Nature Restoration Fund came under the microscope during a talk at the 2025 Hay Festival of Literature and Arts
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Despite a record-breaking debut, The Wheel of Time was axed over financial concerns, angering fans who praised the third season.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
âThe flight attendant called officials because I smoked a cigarette !!! And embarrass me which jeez I thought was kinda much,â the pop star wrote via Instagram.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
The late âBohemian Rhapsodyâ artistâs legacy lives on as his bandmates, Brian May and Roger Taylor, have continued to perform as Queen. See photos of Freddie throughout his life hâŚ
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Discussion took place during The Independentâ??s daily News Review event at the 2025 Hay Festival
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
A woman claiming to be Freddie Mercury's secret daughter has come forward for the first time in a new biography about the legendary Queen singer.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
In a shocking new biography titled âLove, Freddie,â an unidentified woman claims to be the daughter of the late Queen frontman.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Discover 5 things about Kris Jenner's plastic surgeon Dr. Steven Levine, the celebrity doctor behind natural-looking facelifts and enhancements for stars
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Fans believed the big-budget show starring Rosamund Pike had been improving with each season
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
In a flourishing industry, countryâs top tech companies showcase latest products to compete for military, police contracts.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Billy Joel cancels all upcoming concerts after being diagnosed with a brain disorder called Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Fat Faceâs suede fisherman sandals are giving serious Dr Martens Wrenlie vibes, and theyâre almost ÂŁ90 cheaper and comfortable from the very first wear with no breaking in
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Fans of the beloved fantasy drama are 'devastated' the show has been cancelled after just three seasons
Read more >> : Cick here
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Twitter (X), Inc. was an American social media company based in San Francisco, California, which operated and was named for its flagship social media network prior to its rebrand as X. In addition to Twitter, the company previously operated the Vine short video app and Periscope livestreaming service
Twitter (X) is one of the most popular social media platforms, with over 619 million monthly active users worldwide. One of the most exciting features of Twitter (X) is the ability to see what topics are trending in real-time. Twitter trends are a fascinating way to stay up to date on what people are talking about on the platform, and they can also be a valuable tool for businesses and individuals to stay relevant and informed. In this article, we will discuss Twitter (X) trends, how they work, and how you can use them to your advantage.
What are Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are a list of topics that are currently being talked about on the platform and also world. The topics on this list change in real-time and are based on the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be localized to a Worldwide country or region or can be global, depending on the topic's popularity.
How Do Twitter (X) Worldwide Trends Work?
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends are generated by an algorithm that analyzes the volume of tweets using a particular hashtag or keyword. When the algorithm detects a sudden increase in tweets using a specific hashtag or keyword, it considers that topic to be trending.
Once a topic is identified as trending, it is added to the list of Twitter (X) Worldwide trends. The topics on this list are ranked based on their popularity, with the most popular topics appearing at the top of the list.
Twitter (X) Worldwide trends can be filtered by location or category, allowing users to see what topics are trending in their area or in a particular industry. Additionally, users can click on a trending topic to see all of the tweets using that hashtag or keyword.