I don't think so, Eb. My take, which may be incorrect, is that his wife is a constant and familiar, if not remembered, presence, who accepts him and the moment for what it is, without judgement, thus validating his worth and existence, and providing some sort of anchor. All of us, with or without memory of what happened 60 seconds ago, probably have the radar to pick up on the anxiety or non-acceptance of "what is" of others. When we are in a diminished state, for whatever reason, we can make use of that support from others when we lack the resources or reserves to bolster ourselves.
Wearing's condition is not entirely analogous to the circumstances of memory that prompted your thread. However, I know that my mother-in-law, who had Alzheimer's, was clearly more at ease and more "herself" around two trusted and familiar caregivers hired by my father-in-law during the intermediate stage of her disease and who were with her continuously over the course of her illness. Familiar, kind, validating and accepting as her dementia advanced, even though she did not appear to "know" them.
I know what genes I am probably loaded with. While some family members were remarkably "sharp" right up until they died of strokes in their late 90's, there is a significant history of multi-infarct dementia. Alzheimer's or combinations of the two, with both late and early onset. At only age 58, I am aware of my own diminished cognitive functioning beyond what I think may be normally expectable at my age, and suspect that I am experiencing very early prodromal signs and symptoms that suggest a relatively early onset of dementia, consistent with what hindsight told us about other family members.
I hope I'm wrong, but if I am not, so be it. I know I have family that will continue to love and respect and validate me, no matter what. Who could ask for more? I am who I am. Who I am may or may not be so visible as I age, experience MI's or major strokes, or otherwise lose cognitive abilities in one or more areas. My paternal grandmother was never aware or insightful about her loss of cognitive capacity and memory, and didn't worry about it. My grandfather, uncles and aunts, and to a lesser degree, my father, are aware and insightful.