New centre for dementia sufferers

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Northern Ireland is to get its first specialist centre to look into the degenerative disease, dementia.

The operation will be set up by the University of Stirling after it was awarded £293,000 by the organisation, Atlantic Philanthropies.

There are about 20,000 dementia sufferers in Northern Ireland, a number which is expected to double by 2040.

The centre, expected to open in spring 2007, will enable the region to build up its own expertise on the condition.

Prof June Andrews, director of Stirling University's dementia services development centre, said: "Educators, health and social care workers have long expressed a keen interest in having a dementia centre established in Northern Ireland.

"At present the region relies on a mixture of importing trainers from organisations in other parts of the UK or sending staff outside Northern Ireland for training."

The grant will fund a centre which aims to improve the lives of people with dementia, their carers and families.

Its location has yet to be confirmed.