Novel cromolyn analogs useful as imaging agents for detectingatherosclerotic plaques and for treating atherosclerosis andAlzheimers Disease, and methods of making the cromolyn analogs, aredisclosed. The cromolyn analogs have the general formula (I), or formula(II) wherein X is OH, C1-C6 alkoxyl, 18F, or 19F Y and Z are independentlyselected from a C1-C6 alkyl, C1C6 alkoxyl, halogen, un-substitutedor C1-C6 substituted amine, 18F, 19F, or H and n is 1, 2, or 3 and whereinfor structure (I), if n are both 1 and Y and Z are both H, X is not OH.