A Maltese-Australian singer wants to hold a concert in Malta to raise awareness about Alzheimer's disease, the most common form of dementia.

Although the plans are still in their infancy, Joseph Portelli, who goes by the stage name Jay P, is excited about the prospect of getting local artists involved.

The 36-year-old has come face-to-face with Alzheimer's after his father was diagnosed with the debilitating disease six years ago and is using song to increase the profile of the illness around the world.

He has already organised the concert, Show Compassion, twice in Australia and plans to extend it to other parts in the world, starting with Malta, where he still has family.

"We can do a lot to raise awareness about this disease, especially among young people who will be tomorrow's carers," he said.

His interest in Alzheimer's started when he saw his 86-year-old father, Chris, struggle with the disease, which is affecting the whole family, starting with his mother who is the primary carer.

"It's pretty tough. My father does not know who I am these days," Mr Portelli said, echoing the pain felt by the millions of people around the world who take care of dementia sufferers.

Seeing his father's memory fade and his mother struggle to take care of him pushed Mr Portelli to put pen to paper and write How The Times Have Changed. It was endorsed by Alzheimer's Australia, which asked him to write a song for their advertising campaign.

"We have a war against a disease and it will take courage, belief and faith to win over it," he said. The Melbourne-based singer and songwriter admitted that Alzheimer's was a burden on carers. "My mother sometimes wakes up nine times in a night to take care of dad," he said.

Her suffering is outlined in Mr Portelli's song. "As she slowly dies inside, watching him fading away," he sings.

Not only is taking care of a person with Alzheimer's psychologically demanding but it also needs physical strength, especially because they have to be carried.

"The number of people with Alzheimer's will increase over the coming years but there will not be enough people to look after them. It is a tsunami coming at us," he said.

Mr Portelli emphasised that sufferers should as much as possible remain at home rather than be institutionalised. "My father might not know who and my mother and I are at times but he understands that when he is around us he's at home."

He said the disease had brought him closer to his mother and two sisters, one of whom lives in Gozo.

"I encourage people to embrace the disease rather than push it away," he said.