What you need to know about Billy Joel’s rare brain condition

Health & FitnessMusic
24 May 2025 • 6:43 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • Billy Joel, 76, has cancelled all upcoming performances and tour dates after being diagnosed with Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus (NPH), a rare brain disorder.
  • NPH is caused by excess cerebrospinal fluid in the brain's ventricles, leading to increased pressure and neurological symptoms, and typically affects people over 60.
  • Joel's condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, causing issues with hearing, vision, and balance, and he is undergoing physical therapy.
  • Affected tour dates, including shows in the US and UK (Edinburgh and Liverpool), will be automatically refunded to ticket holders.
  • Earlier this year, Joel postponed four months of tour dates to recover from a surgery for an unspecified medical condition, and recently released his first new song in decades, "Turn the Lights Back On."

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