I have read several articles which place the cause of ALS, MS and possibly other neuro maladies at the feet of some unknown virus.

Apparently, M.S. is caused by the Herpes VI virus. I talked with our 'infectious disease' doctor about the possibility of giving these patients Acyclovir - since it works in Herpes Zoster and genital herpes cases. He inferred that it wasn't quite that easy. Some viruses are much more resistant than others to treatment. And....in the end, herpes has a nasty habit of coming back when the immune system is weakened.