A 75-year-old man with a history of left lower facial droop due to stroke and recurrent left-sided otitis media is noted to have diminished taste on the anterior left tongue. Sensation is otherwise...

A 75-year-old man with a history of left lower facial droop due to stroke and recurrent left-sided otitis media is noted to have diminished taste on the anterior left tongue. Sensation is otherwise intact. What is the most likely explanation?

A. Congenital absence of taste buds on the left tongue

B. Infarction of cerebral taste pathways from stroke

C. Benign changes related to aging

D. Involvement of chorda tympani from otitis media

E. New-onset Bell palsy