Billy Joel has opened up about his recent diagnosis of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH), admitting he feared he may have helped cause it himself.
The 75-year-old music legend, best known for hits like Piano Man and Uptown Girl, discussed his health during a recent appearance on the Club Random Podcast with Bill Maher. While Joel emphasized that he’s feeling “good” overall, he acknowledged ongoing issues with balance and mobility linked to the condition.
“It’s not fixed, it’s still being worked on,” he told Maher. “I feel fine, my balance sucks. It’s like being on a boat.”
When asked about what may have caused the condition, Joel admitted that even medical professionals are uncertain but feared his past drinking habits may have contributed to the condition, though doctors have not confirmed a direct cause.
“Nobody knows. They don’t know,” he said, before offering his own theory: “I thought it must be from drinking. I don’t anymore, but I used to, like a fish.”
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a rare and complex neurological disorder that affects the brain’s ability to drain excess cerebrospinal fluid.
It is most commonly seen in older adults and can lead to symptoms such as unsteady gait, memory loss, and urinary incontinence; symptoms often mistaken for more common conditions like Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease, per Cleveland Clinic.
Joel’s diagnosis was first made public in May via a statement shared on his official Instagram account.
The message confirmed that the condition had begun to interfere with his hearing, vision, and balance, particularly after recent performances. As a result, Joel canceled several upcoming shows, including scheduled concerts in Edinburgh and Liverpool.
In addition to stepping away from live performances, Joel was also forced to miss the premiere of his two-part documentary Billy Joel: And So It Goes at the Tribeca Film Festival in June. At the event, co-director Susan Lacy addressed his absence, reassuring the audience that the musician remains in good spirits.
“Billy wishes he were here tonight,” she said. “He asked us to convey his greetings to you all. He said, ‘Getting old sucks, but it’s still preferable to getting cremated.’”
Joel has also publicly stated that his condition is not life-threatening. During a recent episode of The Howard Stern Show, Stern shared an update from the singer following a dinner: “He does have issues, but he said, ‘Yeah, you can tell people, I’m not dying.’”
Despite his current health struggles, Joel has continued to engage with fans. On Monday night, he shared several Instagram Stories reposting clips from admirers watching his documentary.
One post showed Joel briefly stopping his car in New York to chat with fans in passing rickshaws, posing for photos and thanking them for their support, Metro details.
Joel’s career spans more than five decades. He has earned five Grammy Awards, 23 nominations, and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 by Ray Charles.
In the UK, he’s scored eight top 10 albums and five top 10 singles, and remains one of the most successful American solo artists of all time.