Northern Ireland's first centre for the Alzheimer's Research Trust Network, a partnership between Queen's University and University of Ulster, was launched by Lady Sylvia Hermon.

The North Down MP's husband, Sir John Hermon, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2002.

The Ulster Unionist described the devastating human impact of the disease.

"Alzheimer's is such a dreadfully cruel disease. It steals a person's memory, it steals the personality and steals human dignity," she said.

"We owe Alzheimer's sufferers and carers the very best of research to not only deal with its symptoms but find a cure to prevent it in the first place."

The Alzheimer's Research Trust Network links 15 UK centres of research, each headed by an internationally distinguished research scientist. The network centres share data and findings, pool resources when appropriate and have an annual conference to exchange ideas and results.

The new network will include 15 researchers based across both universities with an interest in the underlying causes or novel treatments for Alzheimer's.

The network also includes research clinicians who specialise in geriatric medicine and run local memory clinics.

The Trust is providing £95,000 to fund the Northern Ireland centre for an initial four and a half year period.

The number of people with dementia is set to double within a generation. There are currently 16,000 people with dementia in Northern Ireland, a figure expected to increase to 20,500 by 2017 and to over 47,000 by 2051.

Dr Janet Johnston, from the division of psychiatry and neuroscience at Queen's, will co-ordinate the network along with Dr Christian Holscher, senior lecturer in neurosciences at the University of Ulster.

Dr Johnston said: "I welcome this Network as a very positive development for research into Alzheimer's disease in Northern Ireland. The establishment of the Northern Ireland Alzheimer's Trust Network signals national recognition of our research and opens up new funding opportunities. It will help foster links between local researchers, those in the UK and our international counterparts."