@Setanta,
I take Dale as passive aggressive to the max except that he doesn't get it, since he doesn't get it.
On Dale and age, I've moderate sympathy, except that I think he has probably always been this way, even at say, age 29.
Dale brings out my meanies, his passive aggressive stuff eliciting mean comments.
I yelled at him about Alzheimers some years ago now, but he still uses it and age.
My mother died a horrible death from it over about twelve years if not more.
He still thinks it is a cute excuse,