If you just want antioxidants (which are themselves oversold too) just eat some berries or something...
I vaguely doubt that.
I mean, this could be tested. Three groups: cold turkey controls, crappy tasting instant coffee group (or even just give them a caffeine pill or something), and full-aroma real coffee group. Groups 2 and 3 get the same amount of caffeine. Now compare the outcomes.
That would be very interesting.
Edit to address Florin_Andrei's critique: last I checked, the organic solvent processes predominant. Just a gestalt, but I suspect there are some adducts produced and the separation, though evaporative, is still imperfect.
Just something to keep in mind.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Decaffeination#Decaffeination_...
but you'd have to be more specific as to what your concerns are.
All true.
Now, by the same token, I am wondering about the effects of decaf. You know, all the alleged "good stuff", none of the sympathetic-nervous-system-stimulation.