Disclosed are methods of inhibiting progression, stabilizing and reversing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and neuromuscular degenerative diseases including spinal muscular atrophy, by administration of xenon, or noble gas compositions at a sufficient frequency and concentration to evoke anti-inflammatory, immunomodulatory, and regenerative processes in a patient in need of therapy. In one embodiment, xenon is administered as a pharmaceutical preparation at a concentration of 5 to 90% by volume, more preferably for certain embodiments, at 5 to 30% by volume, wherein said pharmaceutical preparation additionally contains oxygen, argon, nitrogen and/or air. In other embodiments argon is utilized together, or as a replacement for xenon. Furthermore, the use of xenon and/or other noble gas combinations are disclosed for augmentation of therapies that augment endogenous regenerative cells.
