CHENNAI:The theme of this year's World Alzheimer's Day (which falls on September 21) is "No Time to Lose," according to the Alzheimer's and Related Disorders Society of India.

The key message is that there is no time to lose as the number of people with dementia around the world is set to double in the next 25 years. The estimated number of people with dementia in India is over 3.5 million. In order to turn the attention of the government and society on the condition, a series of programmes has been planned to build awareness and a profile for the campaign. Among the events lined up to celebrate Alzheimer's Day and Alzheimer's Week (September 20 - 26) are a national photography contest and the formation of a group called "Parliamentary Friends of Dementia" to force political opinion to look at the issue.