Short answer: There is no established scientific evidence that a transplanted heart transfers the donor's personality or memories. However, major heart surgery and its treatment can affect mood, attention and memory. Many changes improve, but recovery varies and some problems persist. New or sudden confusion should be assessed promptly rather than assumed to be a normal part of recovery.
“Can a donor's personality be passed on with their heart?”
A popular belief is that a heart transplant recipient may acquire the donor's character, habits or even memories. This idea appears in films and personal accounts.
Some recipients describe changes in food preferences or mood after transplantation. Such personal accounts do not establish that personality or memories have been transferred from the donor. Hypotheses sometimes described as “cellular memory” have not been established as a clinical explanation for these experiences.
Other factors that may help explain changes include:
- Medicines: Immunosuppressant treatment after transplantation can affect mood, sleep or behaviour. Discuss possible side effects with the transplant team and do not stop prescribed treatment on your own.
- Psychological adjustment: Surviving a major, life-saving operation can change a person's outlook, priorities and emotions.
- Coincidence and interpretation: People may interpret similarities or new preferences as meaningful connections, without evidence of a causal link.
Changes after transplantation deserve attention and support. They should be assessed in the context of recovery, treatment and psychological adjustment rather than attributed to a donor's transferred personality.
Why Can Behaviour Change After Heart Surgery?
These effects are relevant to recovery after major cardiac surgery , not only to heart transplantation. Operations may involve cardiopulmonary bypass, anaesthesia, intensive care and significant physical stress, all within a complex recovery process.
Two related but distinct clinical problems are:
- Postoperative delirium: An acute, fluctuating disturbance of attention, awareness and thinking. It can occur after cardiac surgery, particularly in vulnerable or older patients, and requires assessment for treatable causes.
- Postoperative cognitive changes (often called POCD in older literature): Changes in attention, concentration or memory that may last beyond the immediate postoperative period and require follow-up.
Several mechanisms may contribute, including inflammation, changes in brain blood flow, small emboli, medication effects and other medical complications. The older term “post-perfusion syndrome” does not explain every case. Many symptoms improve with recovery , but persistent impairment can occur and should not be dismissed as a simple change of character.
How Long Can These Effects Last?
Delirium may improve over days or weeks as underlying causes are treated, while recovery can take longer in some patients. There is no single one-month recovery deadline that applies to everyone.
More subtle cognitive problems may persist for months, especially in vulnerable patients. Regular follow-up and assessment of new or worsening symptoms are important. Patience and family support help, but they should not replace medical evaluation.
Clinical Comments from Selim İsbir
The following are translated excerpts from an interview with Prof. Dr. Selim İsbir. His comments about recovery describe general clinical experience; they do not provide a deadline for an individual patient.
— Does a person's character change after receiving someone else's heart?
“There is, you might say, a myth about a change of character after open-heart surgery. Does it happen? Our operations are, of course, quite complex. The person's character does not change, but sometimes there can be small changes or injuries in the brain. These can lead to what look like changes in behaviour, but they are mostly temporary. It does not work as if we take one patient's heart, put it into another person, and that person's character is transferred.”
— Can we say that the effects are temporary?
“Yes, to a large extent, the effects in this respect are temporary.”
— Is it possible to give a timeframe?
“It is very difficult to give a timeframe, but these kinds of difficulties largely resolve on their own within the first month after surgery.”
— Prof. Dr. Selim İsbir, Cardiovascular Surgery
For Family Members and Carers
Recovery is both physical and emotional. Changes in concentration, sleep, mood or behaviour can be worrying for family members. Some improve with recovery, but new confusion or a marked change in mental state needs prompt assessment.
Contact the medical team promptly in situations such as:
- New confusion, disorientation or agitation, even in the first days after surgery; do not wait several weeks before seeking advice
- Symptoms that are worsening or are not improving as expected
- Sudden changes accompanied by fever, severe headache, facial droop, speech difficulty or weakness. Possible stroke symptoms require emergency care immediately; call 112 in Turkey or the local emergency number elsewhere.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does heart surgery permanently change someone's personality?
Mood, attention and behaviour can change during recovery, and many symptoms improve. However, persistent cognitive or psychological problems are possible and need assessment. A lasting change should not simply be labelled a normal personality change after surgery.
Can a transplant recipient acquire the donor's personality?
There is no established scientific evidence that an organ transfers personality or memories. Reported changes can have other explanations, including treatment effects, psychological adjustment and coincidence.
Why might someone be distracted or forgetful after surgery?
Major surgery, illness, sleep disruption, medicines and other factors can affect concentration and memory. Some changes improve with recovery. New confusion or worsening symptoms should be assessed to identify causes that may need treatment.
How long do these effects take to improve?
The course varies. Some symptoms improve over days or weeks, while cognitive problems may last longer. A fixed one-month expectation is not appropriate for every patient; follow-up and individual assessment are important.
Can these problems be prevented?
Risk cannot be eliminated completely. Good preparation, appropriate early mobilisation, protecting sleep, using glasses or hearing aids when needed and regular review may support recovery. The care team should tailor these measures to the patient.
This information is general and does not replace an individual medical assessment. Discuss your circumstances with your doctor. Sudden confusion or possible stroke symptoms require urgent assessment.
- Vu T, Smith JA. An Update on Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction Following Cardiac Surgery. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 2022;13:884907.
- Risk factors of postoperative delirium after cardiac surgery: a meta-analysis. PMCID: PMC8072735.
- Saczynski JS et al. Cognitive Trajectories after Postoperative Delirium. New England Journal of Medicine, 2012;367:30–39.
- Evered L et al. Recommendations for the Nomenclature of Cognitive Change Associated with Anaesthesia and Surgery—2018.
- Bunzel B et al. Does changing the heart mean changing personality? A retrospective inquiry on 47 heart transplant patients. Quality of Life Research, 1992;1:251–256.
