Billy Joel shares health update after neurological disorder diagnosis

WASHINGTON — Billy Joel is opening up about his health struggles after revealing he was diagnosed with a rare neurological disorder.

In an interview with comedian Bill Maher, the “Piano Man” singer said he is feeling “fine” but is having issues with his balance. Joel was diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a condition that is often present in those over the age of 65. 

“I feel fine,” Joel said in the interview. “My balance sucks. It’s like being on a boat.”

The 76-year-old singer explained to Maher that the disorder used to be called “water on the brain” and that no one knows the cause of the condition. Joel added that he believed the balance issues stemmed from drinking, noting that he used to “drink like a fish.”

“I feel good. They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I’m feeling,” Joel said. 

Maher also asked the Grammy-winning singer about whether his health issues were “fixed.” 

“It’s not fixed. It’s still being worked on,” Joel said on the comedian’s “Club Random” podcast. 

The recent health update comes two months after Joel canceled all his upcoming concerts amid his diagnosis.

“I’m sincerely sorry to disappoint our audience, and thank you for understanding,” Joel said in a statement at the time.

According to Joel’s post in May, his condition has been worsened by recent concert performances, leading to issues with hearing, vision and balance. Under doctors’ orders, he’s undergoing physical therapy and has been told to stop performing during this recovery period.

According to the Cleveland Clinic, normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a condition that happens when cerebrospinal fluid builds up inside your skull and presses on your brain. The condition is most likely in people over the age of 65. 

The Cleveland Clinic noted the symptoms look very similar to dementia, but NPH is often treatable and sometimes even reversible. 

While more than 700,000 Americans have NPH, less than 20% are properly diagnosed, according to Yale Medicine. 

Andrew Weil contributed to this report.