Heart attacks are often devastating because damaged muscle is impossible to regenerate, leading to progressive heart failure. 

But researchers report a breakthrough that promises to revolutionize post-heart attack treatment.

A research team from the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in Australia and Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel performed a mouse study which focused on a hormone called neuregulin, which plays an essential role in cardiac signaling.

Scientists were able to boost replacement of damage heart muscle by an unprecedented 45 percent by treating with neuregulin.

They are hoping the finding could quickly lead to new heart attack treatments, said Richard Harvey, associate professor at UNSW Australia.

“Unlike blood, hair, or skin cells, which can renew themselves throughout life, cell division in the heart virtually comes to a standstill shortly after birth, which means the heart can’t fully regenerate if it is damaged later in life,” Harvey said.

“The dream is that one day we will be able to regenerate damaged heart tissue, much like a salamander can regrow a new limb if it is bitten off by a predator.

"Just imagine if the heart could learn to regrow and heal itself. That would be the ultimate prize,” he added.