Dementia is said to cost the UK �16bn per annum

The research, commissioned by the Alzheimer's Society, suggests more than 20,500 people in Northern Ireland will be living with dementia by 2017.

The illness currently affects 16,000 people in Northern Ireland.

Claire Keating from the Alzheimer's Society said the new assembly needed to make the care and treatment of dementia a priority.

"This report gives us a clear picture of the scale of dementia here and now," she said.

"We know that the number of people with dementia is set to increase by nearly a third over the next decade.

"We need dementia to be treated as an health and social care priority by the newly elected Northern Ireland Assembly, to ensure that people with dementia and their carers throughout NI, have services and support that meet their needs."

Facts about dementia It costs UK �17bn per year One in three older people die with dementia One in five over 80 have dementia

The research was carried out for the Alzheimer's Society by the London School of Economics and King's College, London.

Together with Scotland, Northern Ireland has the highest proportion of people over 65 living in care homes in the UK with fewer people receiving day care or domiciliary services.

The research also shows that fewer people in Northern Ireland with the condition get care at homes, compared to most other parts of the UK.

The Alzheimer's Society champions the rights of people living with dementia and those who care for them. The Alzheimer's Society works in Northern Ireland, England and Wales.