The Tata Trusts on Wednesday launched a public health awareness campaign, ‘VajoodRaheMaujood’, urging early detection and diagnosis of dementia and stronger support systems for patients and caregivers. The campaign, released during World Alzheimer’s Month, highlights dementia as an emerging public health challenge as India’s elderly population expands.
India is projected to have more than 347 million people aged 60 and above by 2050. An estimated 8.8 million elderly Indians are currently living with dementia, while studies suggest nearly 90% of cases remain undiagnosed. A 2023 AIIMS-USC study projects the number could reach 16.9 million by 2036.The campaign film features psychiatrists, neurologists, geriatricians, caregivers and people living with early-stage dementia, stressing that changes in memory, behaviour and daily functioning should not simply be attributed to ageing.Tata Trusts CEO Siddharth Sharma said dementia would become a defining health conversation over the next three decades, requiring an evidence-based care ecosystem. The Trusts are also supporting initiatives including the Tata Longitudinal Study on Ageing and Dementia India Alliance.
The campaign comes as Kolkata’s ageing demographic is increasing demand for organised geriatric and long-term care. Healthcare expansion in the city is also facing shortages of trained nursing professionals, highlighting the need for specialised dementia-care infrastructure and skilled caregivers.