I am a pediatric neurologist with a focus on neurogenetic disorders and infectious or inflammatory conditions affecting the central nervous system. As a neurogeneticist, I am interested in identifying genetic causes for children with epilepsy, developmental delays, movement disorders, and other neurologic conditions. My interest in neurogenetics stems from the belief that we can identify targeted therapies for children with rare disorders based on a better understanding of the mechanisms of these disorders. I care for children with a variety of conditions, with a good portion of my practice being dedicated to epilepsy. In addition, I take care of children with neurologic problems associated with immunodeficiencies and central nervous system infections.

My research has two main areas. First, I study neurologic complications of common infectious disorders such as HIV, and look at the epidemiology of neurologic disorders in low-resource settings. Second, I investigate the epidemiology and optimal treatments of genetic epilepsies, with a particular interest in channelopathies. I am the director of the KCNT/Migrating Partial Seizures of Infancy registry, a longitudinal study of one form of genetic epilepsy that is attempting to better understand natural history and optimal treatments for this disorder.

In addition to my clinical practice and research at the University of Rochester, I also work in Sub-Saharan Africa with children with HIV, and teach at the medical schools of the University of Zambia and the University of Botswana.

Certified Specialties

Neurology - American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology

Faculty Appointments

Associate Professor - Department of Neurology, Child Neurology (SMD)

Associate Professor - Department of Pediatrics (SMD) - Joint

Credentials

Residency & Fellowship

Fellowship, Epidemiology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. 2011 - 2013

Residency, Pediatric Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. 2009 - 2011

Internship, Pediatric Neurology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. 2008 - 2009

Residency, Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. 2007 - 2008

Internship, Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. 2006 - 2007

Education

MD | University of Rochester School of Medicine/Dentistry (USA). 2006

Research

Research Lab

Visit Research Lab Website

Publications

Journal Articles

Central Nervous System Complications of HIV in Children.

Huff HV, Sportiello K, Bearden DR

Current HIV/AIDS reports.. 2024 April 21 (2):40-51. Epub 01/22/2024.

Correction to: Validation of the National Institute of Health Toolbox Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) in Children and Adolescents with and without HIV Infection in Lusaka, Zambia.

Kabundula PP, Mbewe EG, Mwanza-Kabaghe S, Birbeck GL, Mweemba M, Wang B, Menon JA, Bearden DR, Adams HR

AIDS and behavior.. 2022 October 26 (10):3450. Epub 1900 01 01.

Socioeconomic Status and Cognitive Function in Children With HIV: Evidence From the HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders in Zambia (HANDZ) Study.

Mbewe EG, Kabundula PP, Mwanza-Kabaghe S, Buda A, Adams HR, Schneider C, Potchen MJ, Mweemba M, Mathews M, Menon JA, Wang B, Baseler T, Paciorkowski A, Birbeck GL, Bearden DR

Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes : JAIDS.. 2022 January 189 (1):56-63. Epub 1900 01 01.

Bonardi CM, Heyne HO, Fiannacca M, Fitzgerald MP, Gardella E, Gunning B, Olofsson K, Lesca G, Verbeek N, Stamberger H, Striano P, Zara F, Mancardi MM, Nava C, Syrbe S, Buono S, Baulac S, Coppola A, Weckhuysen S, Schoonjans AS, Ceulemans B, Sarret C, Baumgartner T, Muhle H, des Portes V, Toulouse J, Nougues MC, Rossi M, Demarquay G, Ville D, Hirsch E, Maurey H, Willems M, de Bellescize J, Altuzarra CD, Villeneuve N, Bartolomei F, Picard F, Hornemann F, Koolen DA, Kroes HY, Reale C, Fenger CD, Tan WH, Dibbens L, Bearden DR, Møller RS, Rubboli G

Brain : a journal of neurology.. 2021 December 31144 (12):3635-3650. Epub 1900 01 01.

Evaluating the Relationship Between Depression and Cognitive Function Among Children and Adolescents with HIV in Zambia.

Molinaro M, Adams HR, Mwanza-Kabaghe S, Mbewe EG, Kabundula PP, Mweemba M, Birbeck GL, Bearden DR

AIDS and behavior.. 2021 September 25 (9):2669-2679. Epub 02/25/2021.

Stroke and HIV in Botswana: A prospective study of risk factors and outcomes.

Bearden DR, Omech B, Rulaganyang I, Sesay SO, Kolson DL, Kasner SE, Mullen MT

Journal of the neurological sciences.. 2020 June 15413 :116806. Epub 03/26/2020.

Neurocysticercosis Among Zambian Children and Adolescents With Human Immunodeficiency Virus: A Geographic Information Systems Approach.

Buda A, Dean O, Adams HR, Mwanza-Kabaghe S, Potchen MJ, Mbewe EG, Kabundula PP, Moghaddam SM, Mweemba M, Matoka B, Mathews MM, Birbeck GL, Bearden DR

Pediatric neurology.. 2020 January 102 :36-43. Epub 08/06/2019.

Brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging Findings Associated With Cognitive Impairment in Children and Adolescents With Human Immunodeficiency Virus in Zambia.

Dean O, Buda A, Adams HR, Mwanza-Kabaghe S, Potchen MJ, Mbewe EG, Kabundula PP, Moghaddam SM, Birbeck GL, Bearden DR

Pediatric neurology.. 2020 January 102 :28-35. Epub 09/09/2019.

Neuroimaging and pediatric HIV.

Bearden DR, Gheuens S

Neurology. Clinical practice.. 2019 October 9 (5):371-372. Epub 1900 01 01.

Global HIV neurology: a comprehensive review.

Thakur KT, Boubour A, Saylor D, Das M, Bearden DR, Birbeck GL

AIDS.. 2019 February 133 (2):163-184. Epub 1900 01 01.

Pathogenic Variants in Fucokinase Cause a Congenital Disorder of Glycosylation.

Ng BG, Rosenfeld JA, Emrick L, Jain M, Burrage LC, Lee B, , Craigen WJ, Bearden DR, Graham BH, Freeze HH

American journal of human genetics.. 2018 December 6103 (6):1030-1037. Epub 11/29/2018.

Global Health: Pediatric Neurology.

Bearden DR, Ciccone O, Patel AA

Seminars in neurology.. 2018 April 38 (2):200-207. Epub 05/23/2018.

Risk Factors for Cerebral Palsy in Children in Botswana.

Monokwane B, Johnson A, Gambrah-Sampaney C, Khurana E, Baier J, Baranov E, Westmoreland KD, Mazhani L, Steenhoff AP, Bearden DR

Pediatric neurology.. 2017 December 77 :73-77. Epub 08/03/2017.

Risk Factors for Malnutrition Among Children With Cerebral Palsy in Botswana.

Johnson A, Gambrah-Sampaney C, Khurana E, Baier J, Baranov E, Monokwane B, Bearden DR

Pediatric neurology.. 2017 May 70 :50-55. Epub 02/14/2017.

A Recurrent De Novo Variant in NACC1 Causes a Syndrome Characterized by Infantile Epilepsy, Cataracts, and Profound Developmental Delay.

Schoch K, Meng L, Szelinger S, Bearden DR, Stray-Pedersen A, Busk OL, Stong N, Liston E, Cohn RD, Scaglia F, Rosenfeld JA, Tarpinian J, Skraban CM, Deardorff MA, Friedman JN, Akdemir ZC, Walley N, Mikati MA, Kranz PG, Jasien J, McConkie-Rosell A, McDonald M, Wechsler SB, Freemark M, Kansagra S, Freedman S, Bali D, Millan F, Bale S, Nelson SF, Lee H, Dorrani N, , , Goldstein DB, Xiao R, Yang Y, Posey JE, Martinez-Agosto JA, Lupski JR, Wangler MF, Shashi V

American journal of human genetics.. 2017 February 2100 (2):343-351. Epub 01/26/2017.

Should the Frascati criteria for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders be used in children?

Bearden DR, Meyer AC

Neurology.. 2016 July 587 (1):17-8. Epub 05/20/2016.

Pediatric Cerebral Palsy in Botswana: Etiology, Outcomes, and Comorbidities.

Bearden DR, Monokwane B, Khurana E, Baier J, Baranov E, Westmoreland K, Mazhani L, Steenhoff AP

Pediatric neurology.. 2016 June 59 :23-9. Epub 03/17/2016.

Enteroviruses in X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia: Update on Epidemiology and Therapy

Bearden, David; Collett, Marc; Quan, P Lan; Costa-Carvalho, Beatriz T; Sullivan, Kathleen E;.

The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice. 2016; .

Pediatric Cerebral Palsy in Botswana: Etiology, Outcomes, and Comorbidities

Bearden, David R; Monokwane, Baphaleng; Khurana, Esha; Baier, James; Baranov, Esther; Westmoreland, Kate; Mazhani, Loeto; Steenhoff, Andrew P;.

Pediatric neurology. 2016; .

Should the Frascati criteria for HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders be used in children?

Bearden, David R; Meyer, Ana-Claire;.

Neurology. 2016; : 10-1212.

Treatment of Chronic Enterovirus Encephalitis With Fluoxetine in a Patient With X-Linked Agammaglobulinemia

Gofshteyn, Jacqueline; CÃ¡rdenas, Ana MarÃa; Bearden, David;.

Pediatric Neurology. 2016; 64: 94-98.

Early antiretroviral therapy is protective against epilepsy in children with human immunodeficiency virus infection in botswana.

Bearden, David; Steenhoff, Andrew P; Dlugos, Dennis J; Kolson, Dennis; Mehta, Parth; Kessler, Sudha; Lowenthal, Elizabeth; Monokwane, Baphaleng; Anabwani, Gabriel; Bisson, Gregory P;.

Journal of acquired immune deficiency syndromes (1999). 2015; 69(2): 193-199.

Neurologic complications of rotavirus in neonates More common than we thought?

de Vries, Linda S; Bearden, David;.

Neurology. 2015; 84(1): 13-14.

Targeted treatment of migrating partial seizures of infancy with quinidine

Bearden, David; Strong, Alanna; Ehnot, Jessica; DiGiovine, Marissa; Dlugos, Dennis; Goldberg, Ethan M;.

Annals of neurology. 2014; 76(3): 457-461.

Pediatric Cerebral Palsy in Africa Where Are We?

Donald, Kirsten A; Kakooza, Angelina M; Wammanda, Robinson D; Mallewa, Macpherson; Samia, Pauline; Babakir, Haydar; Bearden, David; Majnemer, Annette; Fehlings, Darcy; Shevell, Michael;.

Journal of child neurology. 2014; : 0883073814549245.

Severe 5, 10-methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase deficiency and two MTHFR variants in an adolescent with progressive myoclonic epilepsy

Kristin, ED; Bearden, David; Watkins, David; Hyland, Keith; Rosenblatt, David S; Ficicioglu, Can;.

Pediatric neurology. 2014; 51(2): 266-270.

Pediatric cerebral palsy in Africa: a systematic review

Donald, Kirsten A; Samia, Pauline; Kakooza-Mwesige, Angelina; Bearden, David;.

Seminars in pediatric neurology. 2014; 21(1): 30-35.

Status epilepticus and refractory status epilepticus management

Abend, Nicholas S; Bearden, David; Helbig, Ingo; McGuire, Jennifer; Narula, Sona; Panzer, Jessica A; Topjian, Alexis; Dlugos, Dennis J;.

Seminars in pediatric neurology. 2014; 21(4): 263-274.

Retinopathy in cerebral malaria New answers, new puzzles

Bearden, David;.

Neurology. 2012; 79(12): 1196-1197.

Isolated neonatal seizures: when to suspect inborn errors of metabolism

Ficicioglu, Can; Bearden, David;.

Pediatric neurology. 2011; 45(5): 283-291.

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