How come the word "Mongoloid" is a synonym for Down syndrome? Like, how did that come to be?

I know Mongoloid was one of three different terms used in Rome for describing people's ethnic origins. How did it get to be related to mental illness?

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Allelse · 36-40, M

Any type of slang is tricky to find the origins of. I never heard the term Mongoloid used for someone who was mentally retarded till I watched Pulp Fiction ion.

BlueMetalChick · 26-30, F

Oh I love that movie!

Allelse · 36-40, M

Bruce Willis pretends to be retarded and the French chick he's with says 'no Mongoloid! I hate when you do mongoloid!!' And the other place I heard it was at the beggining of frisk till dawn when the cop is talking to the gas station clerk.