Concern about signs of dementia that seem to come and go in DH. Any suggestions?

My DH is a brilliant man who has always been a bit eccentric. He has had 3 heart ablations, one every 10 years as symptoms of chronic Afib/flutter return worse then before. He was found to have an thoracic ascending aneurysm the last ablation.

He takes very good care of himself and is aware of cooperating with increased limitations as this progresses. He was an adrenaline seeker, type A personality, and learning how to become more zen with his approach to life.

My concern is that his eccentric behavior seems to becoming more odd. He has always been socially odd in conversational ways especially when uncomfortable, but this is becoming worse and more strange. He has wonderful friends but I see them question him with impatience recently. He goes in and out of seeming disconnected, forgetting whole TV programs we have seen or asking questions that are telling me he does not understand what is happening between interactions. He can not follow conversations often enough to notice. He drives getting confused with exactly where to go, taking long, convoluted routes to familiar places, but denies this. He still does some business but is telling me it is " A new world out there". He argues with people on the phone when he needs to answer questions he used to be able to do off the top of his head....and so forth in this vein. I feel he is aware of these things and covering. Other times he seems so sharp, I think perhaps it is my imagination or that I am just becoming more aware of his behavior and can recall some of these odd things through out our years together. But then he says or does something that is so left field, I am certain there is something happening.

I am aware of certain dementia's that happen from having Afib/flutters and the ablations. I wonder how to get a diagnosis for him without making him feel inadequate in some way. He is very proud and is determined to heal himself. He's very good at this, actually, but sometimes I see this progression towards something odd increasing. He seems to be unable to deal with less and becomes easily overwhelmed. Seems clueless to the affect he has on people, can not read them and seems confused.

I'm not sure if I should even have it looked into since it seems they have no information on how to heal this aside from self care. And he is far from being incapacitated.

This is for my own understanding and patience at this point. I am a planner and a need to know person. He is not.

He is not on any drugs at this point, although he had been for years on Flecainide, and recently on Pradaxa for the pre/post op .

I could just use some advice and information about how to approach this delicate situation with him.

He will need to be examined for his heart every year. His heart Dr , who is a friend, says not to look for trouble until you need to ( referring to physical chart info). I am not sure if this is the best way to go concerning my questions about preparing one for what may or may not happen. One minute I feel I worry for nothing and then I feel panic about not being prepared enough for something that may get worse.

He is 68 years old.

Thank you for having this forum.