Prosecutors on Thursday charged a 71-year-old man with allegedly stabbing his wife early Wednesday morning at their Waipahu home.

Marcial R. Aguilar was initially arrested at 6:20 a.m. at his Pupukoae Street home for investigation of attempted second-degree murder but the charges were downgraded to two counts of second-degree assault. Aguilar's bail is $11,000 pending an initial appearance today at District Court.

Neighbors said Aguilar appears to be affected by some form of dementia.

His wife, 70, was stabbed in the chest with a kitchen knife shortly before 6 a.m. Wednesday for no apparent reason. She was taken to the hospital in critical but stable condition and later improved, police said.