Dr. Young's research work includes elucidating cellular and systems mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease and Parkinson's disease. She is spearheading an effort at Mass General to accelerate the discovery of effective therapeutics for neurodegenerative diseases. Dr. Young has served on the editorial boards of numerous biomedical journals and she has been the recipient of many awards and honors for her work. She is a member of the scientific advisory boards of several voluntary organizations, and the past President of the American Neurological Association and the Society for Neuroscience. In June 2015, Dr. Young received an honorary membership award which recognizes individuals who have made extraordinary contributions to the field of movement disorders or otherwise to the Movement Disorder Society.