Sarcopenia is an age-related progressive disease associated with decline in muscle mass strength and function which severely reduces the quality of life of sufferers and increases the social and economic burden. With the acceleration of the process of global population aging sarcopenia has become one of the major public health problems that impair the health of the elderly people in our country and even the in the world but there are lack of effective prevention and control measures. Irisin as an active protein factor secreted by skeletal muscle regulates muscle and bone metabolism as well as glucose and lipid metabolism through mitogen-activated protein kinase and other cell signaling pathways affects biological processes such as myoblast differentiation and myoblast fusion promotes the growth and proliferation of skeletal muscle cells and maintains muscle mass and function. Irisin deficiency can lead to the decline of skeletal muscle mass and muscle strength which is closely related to the occurrence and development of sarcopenia. Blood irisin levels have the potential to be a therapeutic target and an early monitoring biomarker for metabolically related diseases such as sarcopenia. However the evidence from current studies on the association between irisin and the risk of sarcopenia is limited and the relevant mechanism has not been clarified. This article reviews the research progress of irisin and sarcopenia aiming to provide new ideas for early screening diagnosis and intervention treatment of senile sarcopenia.