Final answer:
ALS is a progressive neurological disease with no cure, but treatments such as riluzole can provide a modest extension of life by slowing down the disease's progression.
Step-by-step explanation:
Treatments for ALS,
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), commonly known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, is a progressive neurological condition marked by the deterioration of motor neurons in charge of voluntary muscle movements. One of the treatments for ALS includes a drug named riluzole (Rilutek), which is the only drug approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration for this purpose. The effects on the patient are not curative but the drug acts by reducing excitatory neurotransmission, which can slow down the progression of the disease. Patients may gain about 3 additional months of life as a result of this treatment.
While riluzole provides some benefit, ultimately, ALS leads to difficulties with movements, speech, and respiration, requiring advanced technologies to assist with breathing and communication for those in advanced stages of the disease.