A potential vaccine for the early stages of Alzheimer's disease could be available within the next five years, if trials prove to be successful.

The potential vaccine, which aims to prevent and reverse the early signs, is bound for human trials in the next year.

More than 50,000 Kiwis suffer from dementia, and that's expected to triple by 2050.

Lead researcher Nikolai Petrovsky told Jack Tame Alzheimer's is caused by two proteins in the brain.

"When these proteins lose shape, essentially they clog up the brain and eventually stop the brain cells working, and that's why you start to lose your memory and your brain starts to dysfunction."

Mr Petrovsky said the immense support and pressure for the life-saving cure could help speed up the process of making it available.

"We're expecting this to potentially be as quick as three, four, five years - a typical vaccine takes 15 to 20 years."

Human trials are expected to take place within a year or two.

LISTEN ABOVE AS NIKOLAI PETROVSKY SPEAKS WITH JACK TAME