
Billy Joel opens up about brain disorder diagnosis after cancelling tour dates: ‘My balance sucks'
Speaking to Bill Maher on his Club Random podcast this week, Joel said he felt 'good'.
'They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I'm feeling,' he said. 'I feel fine. My balance sucks. It's like being on a boat.'
Normal pressure hydrocephalus is a condition in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain's ventricles, typically affecting balance and gait, cognitive function and bladder control. It primarily affects people over the age of 60, according to the Hydrocephalus Support Association.
In a statement to his Instagram account in May, Joel said his condition had been 'exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance'. He said he had cancelled the rest of his tour on medical advice, and was undergoing physical therapy.
Speaking to Maher, the singer said: 'It's not fixed. It's still being worked on.'
Joel said he doesn't know what led to him developing NPH. 'I thought it must be from drinking,' the Piano Man singer said, adding he doesn't drink any more. 'I used to – like a fish.'
Joel hasn't rescheduled his concert dates.
His interview with Maher focused on Billy Joel: And So It Goes, a two-part documentary premiering this week on HBO. Coming in at five hours, the documentary unpacks the Grammy award-winner's extraordinary five-decade career and catalogue of music, which includes the hits Piano Man, Uptown Girl, We Didn't Start the Fire and New York State of Mind.

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Medical News Today
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Although these micronutrients are needed in only tiny amounts, deficiencies can affect cognitive performance as well as physical health.A new study suggests that one particular micronutrient, copper, may be important in maintaining cognitive function as we get study, which is published in Scientific Reports, reports that there is an optimum level of dietary copper intake for older people, below which cognitive function may be impaired, and above which there was not further benefit.'The study suggests that moderate dietary copper intake (approximately 1.2–1.6 mg/day) is associated with better cognitive function in older adults, particularly in processing speed and executive function. The observed reverse L-shaped curve indicates benefits up to a threshold, beyond which no additional cognitive advantage is observed. This aligns with copper's role in neurotransmission and antioxidant defence.'— Steven Allder, consultant neurologist at Re:Cognition Health, who was not involved in the copper affects brain functionThe study used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), between 2011 and 2014. Researchers analyzed 2,420 participants, determining their dietary copper intake by averaging two 24-hour dietary recalls. From this, they divided them into quartiles, from greatest to least copper intake. They then assessed their cognitive function using 4 standard tests:The Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) — a paper-and-pencil cognitive test on a single sheet of paper that requires a subject to match symbols to numbers according to a key at the top of the Animal Fluency Test (AFT) — naming as many animals as possible in a short period of time (usually 1 minute).A Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer's disease (CERAD) subtest — a range of tests used to assess Alzheimer's cognition Z score — a standardized measure that summarizes an individual's overall cognitive function across a battery of cognitive M. Holland, MD, MS, physician-scientist and assistant professor at the RUSH Institute for Healthy Aging, RUSH University, College of Health Sciences, not involved in the study, explained how copper is used in the brain:'Copper plays a vital role in the brain's health by supporting several biological systems, most notably energy metabolism, neurotransmitter synthesis, and antioxidant defenses. It acts as a cofactor for enzymes that help generate cellular energy and protect neurons from oxidative stress, which is a key contributor to aging and cognitive decline. One enzyme in particular, superoxide dismutase (SOD1), relies on copper to neutralize harmful free radicals-that can harm normal brain tissue,' he told Medical News copper intake linked to better cognitive function, up to a pointIn this cross-sectional observational study, the researchers found that people in the top quartile for copper intake scored higher on the cognitive function tests. However, they observed that cognitive function scores peaked at a certain level of copper intake then did not increase optimum levels for each test were 1.63 mg/day for DSST, 1.42 mg/day for AFT and 1.22 mg/day for the Z score. 'This study highlights that cognitive benefits of copper appear most pronounced at moderate dietary levels, around 1.2 to 1.6 mg/day. Above that threshold, the gains taper off, which aligns with our understanding that both deficiency and excess can disrupt brain health. Too little copper may impair synaptic function and energy production, while too much can promote oxidative damage and inflammation, essentially flipping copper's role from protector to stressor.'— Thomas M. Holland, MDAllder also emphasized that balance is key:'Excessive copper can generate free radicals, overwhelm antioxidant systems, and disrupt mineral homeostasis, potentially accelerating neurodegenerative changes such as amyloid-beta accumulation and tau tangles seen in Alzheimer's disease.'How to get the right amount copper in your dietOur experts advised that eating a diverse, whole-food diet will ensure adequate, but not excess copper, and supplements should be taken only on medical advice. Elena Rolt, registered nutritional therapist and functional medicine practitioner at explained how you can get the right amount of copper.'Shellfish such as oysters, crabs and lobsters are among the richest natural sources, providing high concentrations of this mineral. Organ meats, particularly liver, are also exceptional sources of copper and have long been valued for their nutrient profile.'Sources of copper in diet'For those following plant-based diets, mushrooms, especially shiitake, nuts and seeds, including cashews, sunflower seeds and sesame seeds, offer an excellent alternative. Whole grains, such as quinoa and oats, are other significant contributors, alongside legumes like lentils and chickpeas, which provide both copper and plant-based protein. […] leafy greens such as spinach and kale contain moderate amounts of copper, further supporting overall intake when incorporated into daily meals.'— Elena Rolt, registered nutritional therapistThere's good news for chocolate lovers, too. Both Rolt and Holland advocated dark chocolate, provided it is more than 70% cocoa, as a rich source of dietary findings, but further research neededAs a cross-sectional study, this research cannot determine whether copper causes improved cognitive function.'The methodological approach, leveraging NHANES data and validated cognitive assessments, gives the findings strong credibility, and the fact that the results held up even after adjusting for a range of sociodemographic and lifestyle factors adds to their weight,' Holland said.'To really move the science forward, I'd love to see prospective studies that follow people over time to determine whether copper intake actually slows cognitive decline. Even better would be randomized trials that test copper supplementation, specifically in individuals at risk of cognitive impairment,' he told MNT.'This study really highlights how our brains are influenced by the foods we eat, even at the micronutrient level. 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Daily Mail
17 minutes ago
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