The brain disorder that forced Billy Joel to cancel his concert tour can cause problems to walk and think clearly, but it is often treatable and can even be reversed, doctors said.
A publication on the Instagram of the 76 -year -old singer on Friday said that he recently diagnosed normal pressure hydrocephalus and that concert performances exacerbated problems with his “audition, vision and balance.”
The condition is relatively rare, according to the Cleveland Clinic, which affects “about 5.9% of people over 80 years.”
It is more commonly diagnosed in older adults, which usually appears around 70 years.
What is normal pressure hydrocephalus?
The human body constantly tries to maintain a stable level of cerebrospinal fluid to cushion the brain and spinal cord, whether making more or absorbing.
This liquid tends to occupy a little more space in older adults because the volume of the brain is reduced as a normal part of the aging process, said Dr. Wajd al-Holou, a neurosurgeon from Michigan Health University.
“But what happens in normal hydrocephalus pressure is an abnormal accumulation of fluid that causes cerebral dysfunction due to the pressure it is putting in the brain,” he said.
What are the symptoms and how is it diagnosed?
Patients are often diagnosed after seeing a doctor because, or a family member, they are worried that they can be developing dementia, which is also more common as people grow old.
Memory loss, bladder control problems and walking problems are also common. Patients may have problems lifting their feet, putting them at risk of stumbleing and falling.
Doctors generally make brain images, whether a computerized tomography or a magnetic resonance, said Al-Holou, as well as a variety of neurological tests.
Doctors can also do what is called lumbar puncture to drain excess fluid. If the symptoms of the person improve, the condition is often diagnosed as normal pressure hydrocephalus or NPH.
How is it?
Although the condition may seem dementia, there is a key difference: normal pressure hydrocephaly is treatable and, in many cases, reversible if it catches early.
Commonly, neurosurgeons implant a ventriculoperitoneal derivation in the brain that helps drain the accumulation of liquids into another part of the body, such as the abdomen, where it can be reabsorized.
You can also use a medication called acetazolamide, as it can help the body reduce the level of liquid alone. The medicine does not work for everyone, Al-Holou said.
It was not clear on Friday what kind of treatment Joel would receive. His publication on social networks said the singer “is experiencing specific physiotherapy,” but did not give details.
That type of therapy is generally administered, doctors said, to help patients recover balance.
Any treatment is more effective if a diagnosis is performed quickly. If the condition turns on too much time without control, it can cause permanent brain damage, Al-Holou said.
If a person seems to be experiencing early signs, such as problematic memory loss and difficulty walking, “should see a primary or neurologist care doctor to investigate more thoroughly,” he said.
