Billy Joel Doesn’t Want People Worrying About His Brain Disorder: ‘Sounds a Lot Worse’

The artist stepped away from performing following his normal pressure hydrocephalus diagnosis last year

Billy Joel doesn’t want anyone fretting too much over his health. The artist stepped away from performing last year after being diagnosed with normal pressure hydrocephalus, a brain disorder caused by an excessive accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid in the brain’s ventricles. Still, he doesn’t think it’s a big deal.

“I know people are worried about me because they read that I have a brain disorder, which sounds a lot worse than it actually is,” Joel recently shared on SiriusXM while taking calls from fans. “I’m okay. My balance isn’t that good. Lost a little bit of my hearing, but that may have to do with my age, too, and the rock and roll life and the loud volume probably didn’t help. But I’m fine. I want people to not have to worry about me. I’m okay.”

After initially refusing surgical intervention, Joel had a shunt implanted to alleviate some effects of the disorder. The procedure has helped to improve his memory, balance, and overall function, he shared earlier this month.

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Joel still isn’t sure when he will return to the stage — beyond the surprise appearance he made with a cover band earlier this year — but this absence of performances has been referred to as a “recovery period” in recent statements from his team. “This condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision, and balance,” his team said last year. “Under his doctor’s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing.”

For his part, at 77 years old, Joel can’t entirely tell which health hiccups are a result of his age versus the disorder. “They don’t want me to stress too much,” Joel said about his medical team. He doesn’t want anyone else stressing too much, either.