A groundbreaking study from the University of Arizona has found that certain patients with artificial hearts are capable of regenerating heart muscle, which could lead to innovative treatments for heart failure.

The research revealed that these patients regenerate muscle cells at a rate over six times higher than those with healthy hearts, highlighting the heart's intrinsic regenerative abilities.

Co-led by Dr. Hesham Sadek, the study published in the journal Circulation suggests that artificial hearts create a resting state for heart muscle, which may facilitate recovery.

Sadek drew a parallel between muscle recovery in sports injuries and the potential for artificial hearts to enhance heart muscle regeneration.

He noted that the heart muscle's inability to rest could limit its regenerative capabilities, a concept he has been investigating since 2011.

Sadek's research aims to uncover why only about 25% of artificial heart patients exhibit muscle regeneration and how to improve this response across all patients.

Heart failure currently impacts approximately 7 million adults in the U.S. each year and is responsible for 14% of all deaths, with existing treatments primarily involving heart transplants or devices like left ventricular assist devices (LVADs).

This research is part of a larger initiative to enhance heart failure treatments and could revolutionize the management of heart disease, given that artificial hearts are already recognized medical devices.

The study utilized tissue samples from patients with artificial hearts, collaborating with researchers from the University of Utah and the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and Germany.