Proton Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy was used to quantitatively determine cerebral N-Acetyl Aspartate (NAA) concentrations in four patients with Canavan's disease and in four age-matched control subjects. Macroscopic NAA concentrations (µmol/gm wet weight) were not found to be significantly different from controls. Reduced levels of choline and creatine were observed in all patients, and increased levels of lactate and inositol in the eldest three patients.