Many organs and tissues retain the capacity to regenerate new cells – think how quickly skin heals after wounds. It’s long been held that heart cells (cardiomyoctes) on the other hand, lack this ability - that is until recent research using sophisticated carbon-14 dating.

Medical researchers discovered that during the average life-span, less than 50% of heart cells regenerate, which means that over half our heart cells have been with us since birth.

The fact that these cells regenerate at all gives hope for people suffering from heart failure which remains the leading cause of hospitalization in the U.S. Research into what triggers the renewal of heart cells remains a mystery.

In the meantime, research continues on stem-cell applications both embryonic and adult, as possible treatment. To find out more, click on the link to the Clinical Implications to Basic Research section in the NEJM.

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