I don't really understand your `(?<=^|\\s+)(@)(\\w+)` suggestion. But I tried that and unfortunately it matched nothing.

I then tried changing the list regex `^\\s*([\\*\\+-])[ \\t]` to wrap the whitespace in a non-capture group: `^\\s*([\\*\\+-])(?:[ \\t])`. That didn't work either.

Removing the whitespace from lists all together 'fixes' this issue, but it really breaks lists. They need the whitespace.

Limiting the whitespace in lists to one space or one tab matches the @mention if you have an extra space before it. But that doesn't really help either.

I guess the issue is that even though that whitespace doesn't really become part of the list, it's needed as part of the match.