It is unclear when Billy Joel will perform again.<\/p>\n
The 77-year-old singer has to take \u201ca series of tests\u201d before being able to tour again, he told the Hollywood Reporter<\/a> in a health update following his 2025 brain disorder diagnosis.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m not allowed to drive,\u201d Joel said in the interview published Thursday. \u201cAnd I can\u2019t do performances because what the neurologist told me, every time you do a show, it\u2019s like you\u2019re getting a concussion.\u201d<\/p>\n Joel canceled concerts<\/a> in May 2025 after revealing two months before that he had a brain disorder known as normal pressure hydrocephalus, or NPH, which causes physical and mental issues.<\/p>\n \u201cThis condition has been exacerbated by recent concert performances, leading to problems with hearing, vision and balance,\u201d Joel said in a statement on his Instagram<\/a> in May 2025. \u201cUnder his doctor\u2019s instructions, Billy is undergoing specific physical therapy and has been advised to refrain from performing during this recovery period.\u201d<\/p>\n NPH is a brain disorder in which excess cerebrospinal fluid accumulates in the brain\u2019s ventricles, according to the Alzheimer\u2019s Assn<\/a>. It can cause cognitive issues, difficulty walking and the loss of bladder control. Those suffering with NPH often walk with a wide stance and their bodies bent forward as if they were trying to maintain balance on a boat \u2014 a feeling that Joel described while on Bill Maher\u2019s podcast \u201cClub Random<\/a>\u201d on July 21, 2025.<\/p>\n Other symptoms include mild dementia that involves short-term memory loss, a lack of interest in daily activities and difficulty completing routine tasks.<\/p>\n NPH is one of the few causes of dementia that can be controlled or reversed with surgical treatment, usually involving the placement of a shunt.<\/p>\n It is unclear whether Joel underwent the procedure, although the \u201cUptown Girl\u201d singer initially postponed his concerts in March 2025<\/a> after undergoing unspecified surgery and physical therapy.<\/p>\n