[1][2] Born in Maryhill, Glasgow, he was the eldest child of Archibald Young, a doctor, and Mamie (née Fleming), a nurse.
[3] His interest in geriatrics grew during this period, influenced by his correspondence with Jerry Morris, a leading researcher in social medicine.
[3] In the early 1980s, Archie Young worked as a doctor in a rehabilitation unit in Oxford, where he introduced ultrasound imaging to physiotherapy.
[3] Young's research in Oxford and London involved experiments with elderly volunteers, focusing on the measurement of quadriceps strength and the impact of resistance exercises.
[3] His notable 1986 publication, Exercise Physiology in Geriatric Practice, presented findings that elderly individuals could increase strength, reduce frailty, and delay the onset of dependence.