Catalyzes the deacetylation of N-acetylaspartic acid (NAA) to produce acetate and L-aspartate. NAA occurs in high concentration in brain and its hydrolysis NAA plays a significant part in the maintenance of intact white matter. In other tissues it act as a scavenger of NAA from body fluids. H2O + N-acyl-L-aspartate = a carboxylate + L-aspartate Binds 1 zinc ion per subunit. Homodimer. Brain white matter, skeletal muscle, kidney, adrenal glands, lung and liver. The disease is caused by variants affecting the gene represented in this entry. Belongs to the AspA/AstE family. Aspartoacylase subfamily.