logo
Billy Joel says he's 'OK' and not 'deathly ill' after receiving brain disorder diagnosis

Billy Joel says he's 'OK' and not 'deathly ill' after receiving brain disorder diagnosis

Yahoo4 days ago
NEW YORK (AP) — Billy Joel is doing much better, the 'Piano Man' singer wants fans to know.
In May, Joel canceled all his upcoming concerts across North America and England after being diagnosed with fluid buildup in his brain that has affected his 'hearing, vision and balance.' The condition is called Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus, 'a brain disorder that can affect brain-related abilities, including thinking and concentrating, memory, movement and more,' the Cleveland Clinic says.
'I know a lot of people are worried about me and my health, but I'm OK,' Joel said in an interview with People magazine. "What I have is something very few people know about, including me, no matter how much you try to research it. I'm doing my best to work with it and to recover from it.'
'It was scary, but I'm OK,' Joel, 76, says. 'I just wanted to let people know, don't worry about me being deathly ill or anything.'
He also discussed his health in an episode of comedian Bill Maher's Club Random podcast, telling the host he feels 'fine," adding that, 'My balance sucks. It's like being on a boat... They keep referring to what I have as a brain disorder, so it sounds a lot worse than what I'm feeling."
He added that his health issues are not 'fixed,' but 'it's still being worked on.'
A representative for Joel declined additional comment.
In March, the 'Uptown Girl' singer announced that he underwent surgery and had to undergo physical therapy. A statement at the time said doctors expected him to make a full recovery. It is unclear if his medical issues at the time were related to Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus.
The condition can cause problems with walking, bladder control and thinking, with symptoms worsening if left untreated. It's relatively rare and can be hard to diagnose. It can be treated successfully with surgery to install a tube to drain excess fluid. Patients may need physical therapy in addition to surgery.
Solve the daily Crossword
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Three-person IVF technique shown to prevent inherited genetic diseases
Three-person IVF technique shown to prevent inherited genetic diseases

Fox News

time15 minutes ago

  • Fox News

Three-person IVF technique shown to prevent inherited genetic diseases

An unconventional approach to reproduction is reportedly reducing the risk of metabolic disease. Three-person in vitro fertilization (IVF), a new concept developed by scientists in New Castle, U.K., has resulted in the births of eight healthy children. In the study, published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the researchers found that pathogenic variants in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are a "common cause" of severe — and often fatal — inherited metabolic disease. This DNA in the mother's mitochondria can cause "harmful mutations" in children, which can lead to diseases that affect tissues in the heart, brain and muscles, according to the journal Nature. At the Newcastle Fertility Centre, 22 women with pathogenic mtDNA variants underwent a "pronuclear transfer," in which they received a mitochondrial donation. This involved the transfer of the nucleus of a fertilized egg with "faulty mitochondria" into a donor egg cell with healthy mitochondria, Nature detailed. The result includes nuclear DNA from both the biological mother and father, as well as mitochondrial DNA from the separate egg donor. From this, eight children were born healthy, with no levels or low levels of mtDNA detected in their blood. The researchers noted that one child did develop hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol) and cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat) — as the child's mother had hyperlipidemia during pregnancy — but both conditions responded to treatment. Another child developed infant myoclonic epilepsy — a rare type of epilepsy that typically affects infants between 6 months and 3 years old — which concluded in "spontaneous remission." "At the time of this report, all the children have made normal developmental progress," the researchers noted. Dr. Zev Williams, director of Columbia University Fertility Center in New York City, said this latest research "marks an important milestone." "Expanding the range of reproductive options … will empower more couples to pursue safe and healthy pregnancies," he said in an interview with Fox News Digital. In a press briefing, Robert McFarland, a pediatric neurologist at Newcastle University, who co-led one of the studies, reportedly noted the team's "cautious optimism" about the results. "To see babies born at the end of this is amazing, and to know there's not going to be mitochondrial disease at the end of that," he said. Fox News Digital reached out to the study researchers for comment.

This Handwriting Change May Be An Early Sign Of Parkinson's
This Handwriting Change May Be An Early Sign Of Parkinson's

Yahoo

time18 minutes ago

  • Yahoo

This Handwriting Change May Be An Early Sign Of Parkinson's

Parkinson's disease, the condition Ozzy Osborne was diagnosed with roughly five years before his death, affects about 153,000 people in the UK at the moment. It is a progressive neurological disease. While there is no single, outright cure for it yet, the NHS says therapies like medication and physiotherapy can minimise its symptoms for many. But sadly, the condition is often misdiagnosed, even though early diagnosis can be very beneficial. That's why organisations like Parkinson's UK champion better, earlier diagnoses, and hope one day for a single test that can accurately spot the disease as soon as possible. In the meantime, however, they've shared early signs of the condition; one of which involves changes to your handwriting. How is handwriting linked to Parkinson's? Parkinson's UK says that noticing smaller handwriting over time is one potential early sign. This is called micrographia, and could affect as many as 50-60% of people living with Parkinson's, though the numbers are not settled. 'You may notice the way you write words on a page has changed, such as letter sizes are smaller and the words are crowded together,' the charity shared. A 2022 paper suggested that the handwriting change may precede other motor symptoms of Parkinson's, like tremors. Parkinson's is not the only cause of handwriting changes – it's been linked to other neurological changes, while Parkinson's UK says 'writing can change as you get older, if you have stiff hands or fingers or poor vision' – but it may be worth seeing your doctor about it, especially if it comes with other symptoms. What are the other early symptoms of Parkinson's? According to Parkinson's UK, having a single early symptom doesn't mean you've got the disorder. But 'if you have more than one sign, you should consider making an appointment to talk to your doctor,' they wrote. Aside from micographia, the other possible symptoms they listed were: Tremors. Shaking in your finger, thumb, hand, or chin while at rest is a common early symptom. Loss of smell, especially for strongly-scented foods like bananas, liquorice, and gherkins. Moving a lot in your sleep, especially if you start acting out your dreams or thrashing around a lot. Trouble with movement or walking. You might find your arms don't swing as much as they used to when you walk, that your limbs or stiff, that your shoulders of hips feel tight, or that your feet feel 'stuck to the floor.' Constipation. This can be normal, but it can persist with Parkinson's. Developing a soft, low voice that others might describe as hoarse or breathy and which might sound quieter than usual. 'Facial masking,′ or a sad or angry expression on your face that happens regardless of your mood. Dizziness or fainting, for instance, when getting up out of a chair – this can be linked to low blood pressure, which is associated with Parkinson's. Stooping or hunching over, especially if this is new for you. Related... 'Super Smeller' Inspires Test To Spot Parkinson's 7 Years Before Diagnosis Gut Health Discovery Could Help Future Parkinson's Diagnoses Parkinson's Cases Are Set To Double By 2050. Here Are 5 Early Signs To Watch For

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store