Marriage Can Make You Happier and Healthier

With more people living alone than ever before, and fewer couples deciding to tie the knot, the institution of marriage needs all the help it can get.

Whether it's fears about commitment or simply the cost of getting hitched, weddings aren't as popular as they once were.

But now scientists have come up with one unlikely reason why getting married is a good idea -- a study of 2000 people in Sweden found that married couples are less likely to get Alzheimer's disease.

The survey revealed that married, middle-aged people are half as likely to get dementia as their single counterparts, while getting divorced, or becoming widowed, raises the risk three-fold.

Scientists also say remaining socially active may be one of the reasons why married couples are at lower risk from the condition.

So what other reasons are there for going down the aisle? Here's our guide to why getting married is good for you...

Being married gives a boost to your immune system -- lowering your chances of getting all sorts of illnesses from the common cold upwards. Stress hormones are kept at bay while levels of feel-good hormones are increased, leaving you better prepared to fight off infections. And it even reduces your likelihood of dying from conditions such as heart disease and cancer.

High blood pressure is one of the major causes of heart attacks and strokes, so if you want to lower the risk, it's best to stay happily married. A study in Canada found people with borderline high blood pressure who were happily married and spending lots of time with their partner were less likely to suffer a heart attack. So spending time with your other half as he watches the football or she goes shopping might be a sacrifice worth making.

They say a problem shared is a problem halved, which may explain why married couples endure less stress than other people. Not only does having someone to talk to work wonders, but having the odd dingdong argument can relieve stress too. And with stress being linked to a whole host of illnesses -- such as depression, stomach problems, rashes and anxiety -- being able to minimize it is no bad thing.

Any doctor will tell you that minimizing your drinking is good for your health, and getting married may be one way to achieve it. Government statistics have shown that married people drink less, as single people have more time and money on their hands.