Why was the term mongoloid used to refer people with Down Syndrome?

The term "mongoloid" was historically used to refer to people of East Asian origin. It was first coined by the German anatomist Johann Friedrich Blumenbach in the late 18th century to classify humans based on physical characteristics such as facial features and skin color. The term was later adopted in medicine to describe individuals with Down syndrome.

The use of the term mongoloid to describe people with Down syndrome was based on the belief that individuals with this condition had certain physical characteristics that were similar to those of East Asian people, such as an epicanthic fold (a fold of skin that covers the inner corner of the eye) and a flattened facial profile. However, using this term to describe people with Down syndrome was problematic and considered offensive as it perpetuated stereotypes and perpetuated the notion that people with Down syndrome were inherently different from others.

The term "mongoloid" has since been replaced with more accurate and respectful terms such as "Down syndrome" or "individuals with Down syndrome." This change reflects the understanding that Down syndrome is a genetic condition that affects individuals of all backgrounds, and that it is not appropriate to use racial or ethnic labels to describe people with this condition.