Mammalian muscle regeneration relies on the presence of muscle stem cells, known as satellite cells. The number and functionality of these cells decreases with age, as they progressively enter senescence. Using mice and mouse cells, García-Prat et al. show that satellite cell ageing and senescent state are associated with the impairment of autophagy. In line with this, the loss of autophagy was sufficient to deplete the pool of satellite cells and induce their senescence, whereas stimulating autophagy pharmacologically improved the functionality of aged satellite cells. Notably, this has also been confirmed in satellite cells derived from aged humans. The authors further demonstrated that both aged satellite cells and cells with experimental impairment of autophagy showed an increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS), and this was associated with derepression of the expression of the major senescence marker p16INK4A. Accordingly, pharmacological inhibition of ROS could reinstate autophagy and prevent senescence. Collectively, this study opens up new possibilities for the treatment of geriatric muscle loss.