Forty-eight community-dwelling elderly patients were randomised to ten sessions of either verum or placebo acupuncture. Acupuncture was found to be highly effective for improving subjective scores of sleep quality  depression and stress. However, immune and neuropeptide markers commonly associated with stress, sleep impairment and immunosenescence (the deterioration of the immune system due to ageing) did not show any changes in levels following the intervention.

Acupuncture for sleep quality, BDNF levels and immunosenescence: A randomized controlled study. Neurosci Lett. 2014 Dec 12;587C:35-40.