there are lot of reports now relating these two factors.
1. oxidative stress controlled by glutathione and its going bad is related to neuronal survival which is key event in degeneration if hampered.
2. the role of cysteine which is a precursor for Gluthathione and involved in that metabolic pathway can lead to oxidative stress and again relating to neuronal survival.
I have lot of references but for one, you can refer to this link.