N-Acetylaspartate : A Unique Neuronal Molecule in the Central Nervous System

N-acetylaspartate (NAA), the acetylated form of the amino acid aspartate, is one of the most highly concentrated chemicals in the brains of humans, yet its function remains elusive. NAA is used in nonsurgical analyses of nerve cell dysfunction, and it is implicated in a disorder known as Canavan's disease. This book reviews research from around the world in the study of NAA, and the roles it plays in neuronal development and functioning.