Irreversible degenerative changes occur in tissues and organs as the body ages, and these changes are closely associated with disease and death. Autophagy, an important catabolic process in cells, plays a significant role in maintaining cell homeostasis and promoting longevity. Regulatory capacity of autophagy declines after aging. In this paper, we reviewed the relationship between autophagy and aging-associated diseases, claiming that the molecular mechanism of regulation of the aging process by autophagy may provide a new target for the treatment of aging-associated diseases.