The daughter of Bob and Hazel Hawke has made an impassioned appeal for more research into the problem of dementia, which has plagued her mother.

Sue Pieters-Hawke says despite the prevalence of dementia within the Australian community it is seriously under-funded compared with other diseases.

Speaking at an event announcing $16 million in funding from the New South Wales Government for research into brain diseases, she spoke of her mother's struggle.

She says research is needed to identify the risk factors so the disease might be avoided.

"It's too late for my mum ... what we did was use the best knowledge out there on how to live well with dementia and we're grateful to all the people who built that knowledge," she said.

"But that doesn't eliminate the sadness. What I want is a world where my children aren't going to have the sort of pathway ahead of them if they're diagnosed with this."